Refiner's Fire

As Iolaus crested the top of the rocky hill, he stopped and gasped for breath. The gasps sounded very close to sobs. Not only was he exhausted, but also he was fearful that he would not reach his destination in time. He straightened, his shoulders aching with the unrelenting pull of the travois poles he held in his blistered hands. He had traveled three and a half leagues today, but it was at least another fifteen to Dendra and the nearest healer.

He decided a rest could not hurt. He eyed the westering sun anxiously, hoping that perhaps if he refreshed himself now, he would be able to make at least another half league before sunset. He slowly dragged the travois to the small copse of pines that adorned the hilltop.

Any other time, he would have enjoyed the beauty of the natural setting. A flush of spring green painted the treetops of the clustered hills. In the copse he'd found, a small spring bubbled into a pool there that fed the small brook he had been following. A brilliantly blue sky arched overhead, still crystal clear with the last breath of winter. But he had no time for such things now.

He pulled his burden over to where a large log rested, a pine that had fallen long ago. It was a perfect spot to place the poles so the travois would remain inclined. He let the poles down very slowly, so as not to jolt his precious burden, trying to ignore the screaming of his shoulder muscles as he did so. He rose, stretching out the tight muscles in his back, and stepped out from between the poles, then knelt to examine the litter's occupant.

Hercules lay in a restless sleep on the improvised stretcher/sled, his usually rich brown hair lank with sweat, a slight frown between his brows even in sleep. Iolaus watched him a moment, worry etching new lines into his handsome face, darkening his sapphire eyes. With gentle hands he slowly pulled aside the worn blanket that covered the demi-god, trying not to wake him in the process. As Iolaus uncovered Hercules' right leg, he studied the splints that secured it. He checked the edge of the woven leather pants leg that he had been forced to cut away at upper thigh level, and was glad to see that the cut edges were soft and had not chafed the skin. Satisfied that everything was still in place, he carefully began to take off the dressing that covered the mid-thigh. As gentle as he was, however, his ministrations suddenly caused Hercules to gasp and tense his muscles, as he came awake with a jolt.

Iolaus swore and grabbed his friend's flailing hands. "Herc, it's okay -- I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was just checking your leg!"

Hercules blinked and his blue-topaz eyes focused on the anguished face of his best friend. "Oh ... it's you, Iolaus. I was dreaming ... fighting the griffon again ... feeling it rip into my leg --"

"Hey, it's over, Herc. We killed the damned thing, remember?" Iolaus forced a grin.

"Yeah. So -- how're we doing?" Hercules asked, lightly, mustering a grin in return, despite the pain Iolaus could see in his eyes.

"Oh, no worries, buddy," Iolaus kept his tone light, though his breaking voice was evidence he had to force his words out around the lump in his throat. "You're catchin' the Z's and I'm gettin' a good workout. Here -- drink some water while I finish getting this bandage off." He handed Hercules the waterskin which he had unlashed from one of the travois poles, then unlashed the other one and drank from it himself. Then he put it aside to concentrate on checking the wound.

As Hercules drank from the waterskin, Iolaus slowly removed the bandage. The open wound thus revealed sickened him, though not as much as it had when he had first reached his friend just after the injury. The bleeding alone that had resulted would have killed an ordinary mortal, Iolaus thought, grateful that he had learned of pressure points for stopping such bleeding in his eastern travels.

There was still a sluggish ooze of blood, but not enough for concern. More worrisome was the fractured thighbone, once visible through the torn flesh, that he'd done his best to set. He did not remove the packing of boiled linen and herbs, afraid of the disease humors that might infect the wound. So far, the skin around the deep wound appeared healthy, but Iolaus feared the possibility of the wound going bad. He prayed that the demigod's Olympian constitution could win the healing battle.

As he replaced the outer bandage and tied it securely, Iolaus' eyes rose to find Hercules questioning gaze fixed on him. He dredged up a smile from somewhere. "Still looks okay, Herc. How're you feeling?"

Hercules shrugged. "All right, thanks to you, Iolaus. Just a bit chilled again."

Iolaus nodded, not allowing the concern that those words caused to show in his eyes. He replaced the worn blanket over his friend carefully, tucking it securely against drafts. Something in his face as he performed this task made Hercules reach out from under the blanket to grasp his arm.

"Iolaus -- this is not your fault," Hercules said forcefully, giving the smaller man's muscled arm a shake. "You know that, don't you?"

Iolaus paused, not meeting Hercules' concerned eyes. "No, I don't know that at all, Herc. It was my idea to go on this fishing trip, my friend's hut we stayed at -- my fault we were in the middle of nowhere in a forest we didn't know."

"Well, how in Tartarus were you supposed to know that a griffon had come to nest in that forest? Your friend didn't know it -- the people in the little village nearby didn't even know it until it attacked. Actually, it was a lucky thing we were there."

"Lucky?" Iolaus met his friend's gaze then with angry disbelief. "How the hell was it lucky?"

"We were there, close by to help, of course," Hercules replied, somewhat impatiently, wincing as he shifted his position slightly. "If they had had to some look for us in Thebes or Corinth, it might have been weeks before we could've gotten here. Think of how many of those villagers might have died."

Iolaus stared at him a minute longer, still in disbelief, but now because of the incredibly great heart that made Hercules think of everyone else that was saved instead of his own dangerous injury. After a moment he turned away, pulling his arm out of Hercules' grasp, ostensibly to refill the waterskins at the spring, but mainly because he didn't want Hercules to see what was in his eyes. Some intellectual part of Iolaus felt the same way, glad that they had been on hand to take care of a menace that the simple farmers of the tiny, isolated village of Samos could never have handled. But a deeper, more atavistic part of him would've gladly sacrificed those villagers, himself -- anything -- to keep Hercules from being hurt.

"Damn it, Iolaus -- listen to me!" Hercules exclaimed sternly. "None of that was under your control. And when we went after the beast, you had the hardest job -- you were the bait! I don't care how many times you do that with the monsters we face, it still scares me to death. You always tell me it's your job because you're the quick one, but still the most dangerous part of this monster-slaying deal is distracting the creature."

Iolaus, still partially turned away at the spring, replied bitterly, "I obviously didn't distract it well enough. It turned on you."

"That wasn't your fault, either, Iolaus. We've never faced a griffon before. It was quick and smart. You were doing everything you could do, and it nearly caught you a couple of times. It sensed me coming up behind it, and it turned fast -- too fast for either of us to do anything. I just didn't get out of the way in time."

As Iolaus stoppered the waterskins and turned back to replace them, that awful scene suddenly flashed before his eyes, as it had done countless times since yesterday. The tall, terrible griffon, its powerful wings out of commission because of Iolaus' well-placed arrows ... the monster whirling around on Hercules with a blazing slash of its razored lion's claws ... the heart-stopping fountaining of Hercules' life's blood ... his own screaming charge to plunge his sword into the beast's then unprotected chest straight into the heart ... dodging the dying swipes of the claws to pull Hercules away ... his frantic fight to stop the bleeding from a wound that much deeper would have ripped Hercules' leg off ...

A warm grip enveloped his forearm and brought Iolaus up out of the horrid recollection.

"Stop it! Now!" Hercules said. "Going over it again won't help either of us. You did everything you could, a lot that no one else could have done. Whatever happens, you saved me, Iolaus. You're not responsible for my injury!"

Iolaus felt the warmth of Hercules' words breaking the icy self-blame in his heart, but as the full import of his words sunk in, fear intruded.

"Wait -- 'Whatever happens' ... ? Herc ... it c-can't happen to you!"

Hercules voice was suddenly gentle. "Iolaus, we've had this discussion before. You know that I've no idea if I'm immortal or not. Zeus's never told me for certain. But if I die from this wound it will be *in spite of* all you've done for me, not to mention nearly killing yourself pulling me over the rockiest wilderness in the Peloponessus."

"You're not going to die!" Iolaus vowed fiercely, teeth gritted. He gently removed Hercules' hand from his own arm to tuck the other's arm back into the blanket. He checked the straps that held Hercules on the stretcher and lashed the waterskins back into place.

Hercules realized Iolaus was preparing to move out again, and objected. "Iolaus -- what's wrong with this place? It's getting close to sunset, and here's a good spring, cover and a wind break from these tree branches -- everything we need.

Not to mention that you're about worn out, buddy. Let's just stay here."

"No!" Iolaus snapped, then closed his eyes. After a moment he opened them and replied with studied calm. "Look, Herc, I want to make another half league before we stop for the night. I know another good campsite about that far away, where this brook meets a stream. I can do it before full dark. I've got to get you to the Temple of Asclepius in Dendra before ... well, as soon as I can. Your leg needs more attention than I can give it out here!"

Hercules sighed. "All right, Iolaus. Just take it easy on yourself. I'm doin' okay." Iolaus gazed for a moment at the dark circles and lines of pain under the blue eyes, and the pallor of the usually tanned skin. He swallowed convulsively and replied, with a ghost of a smile, "Sure -- just humor me, okay? It's not often I get to call the shots and I want to enjoy it."

Hercules chuckled, his head falling back against its improvised pillow. "Knock yourself out, pal."

Iolaus grinned at the choice of words, then reached out and squeezed Hercules' shoulder once, hard. Without another word, he rose and took up the poles of the travois, and they were off again.

They reached the clearing at the edge of the stream just as the last of the sunset light was fading from the sky. Iolaus just had time to gather wood and get the campfire going well before full dark was upon them. Hercules was dozing wrapped in blankets propped against a storm-downed tree; Iolaus let him sleep while he dug food packets out of the bundles strapped to the litter. Again, he thanked Hermes that they had been staying at Cepheus' well-stocked cabin when Hercules' injury occurred. The cabin had provided materials for the travois, some herbal medicines and linen, and enough supplies so that Iolaus would not have to leave Hercules alone to hunt for a few days. He had foraged some plants as he walked, so now they had berries to add to their supper, as well as willow bark and boneset to add to Hercules' medications.

Iolaus glanced up quickly from his supper preparations to study the darkness surrounding the little circle of firelight. He thought he'd heard a sound in the trees, but when he looked at Hercules he found him muttering quietly in an uneasy dream.

That must be what I heard, he thought. Or was it?

His keen hunter's senses on the alert, Iolaus continued his preparations without a break, but pulled his belt knife out of its sheath, ostensibly to cut up strips of dried meat. Within moments, his every muscle was tense and ready, prepared for action by subliminal cues he could not even name.

So ready was he that when the attack came, he had leapt closer to Hercules in a fighting stance before the first attacker could reach them. Men burst from the woods on each side of the glade, screaming like the Furies.

Two of them reached Iolaus close to the same time. One was able to kick Iolaus' knife out of his hand, but as he came around with a slash of his own knife, Iolaus ducked under the slashing knife hand, grabbed it and pulled him forward. In the same movement, he kicked upwards into the large man's solar plexus. The bandit was knocked backward into his mate, losing his breath in a whooping cry and nearly falling into the fire. The other attacker pushed his comrade out of the way with a growl, and came on with his own slicing attack.

Iolaus whirled and caught the second attacker's knife arm just before the blade struck him. He pivoted and used the man's forward momentum to flip him and slam him into the ground. The attacker's head hit a rock, and he was down for the count.

As Iolaus spun to check the other attackers, his blood suddenly turned to ice water in his veins. Hercules was standing unsteadily on his good leg. As Iolaus watched, he clotheslined a bandit with a powerfully outflung arm. But the effort caused him to sway and nearly fall.

"Herc -- siddown!" he shouted furiously. "I can take care of this!"

"Can't just sit by -- too many of 'em!" Hercules shouted back, striking a smaller attacker with a straight-armed palm in the face. He caught the man as he fell and tossed him at the man who had just begun to recover from the clothesline punch to the throat. Their heads met with a crack and they fell in a heap, dazed and groaning.

"Damn it, Herc --- !" Iolaus vented his fury and fear on another bandit racing toward him. Iolaus ran to meet him head on, shouting wordlessly in rage. He ducked the taller, heavier man's roundhouse blows and rammed a small but powerful fist into his belly. The man bent, clutching his stomach, gasping for breath. Iolaus leapt upward and landed a devastating scissor kick into the man's jaw. The attacker dropped like a stone.

Before Iolaus could recover from that attack, he was caught up in a powerful choke hold and pulled off his feet. All he could see of his attacker was the heavily muscled, tattooed right arm that surrounded his neck, which he recognized as belonging to the first bandit who'd attacked him. Iolaus struggled against that hold with all his might as it began cutting off his air supply. Worse than that, however, was that from his position in the bandit's grip, he now saw that Hercules had fallen to the ground, and a new attacker was raising a knife to plunge it into his back.

Adrenaline poured into Iolaus' veins. He swung himself outward from his captor, bent his knees, and brought both booted feet ramming backward, right into the bandit's groin. The bandit fell with a groan, releasing Iolaus, who dropped and rolled. He came up gasping for air, but staggered up to fly to Hercules' aid.

The bandit's knife arced downward. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Iolaus ran screaming towards that knife, but he felt like he was running through molasses.

*Never make it!* flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, a long wooden staff arrowed out of the underbrush and struck the attacker, knocking him down and the knife out of his hand. Hercules rolled aside, but the bandit was up again and scrabbling for the knife.

Iolaus launched himself toward the bandit. He struck the man, caught him. They rolled over and Iolaus came up on top. He struck the man in the face and kept striking him, unaware that he was shouting at the same time. He was aware only that this enemy had tried to kill Hercules.

"Iolaus -- stop it! He's down!"

Hercules' voice brought him to his senses. Iolaus leapt away from the bloody, battered unconscious man, shaking himself out of the red rage and looking for more attackers. He saw only one left standing, and he was being handled quite well by a small, fiery-haired woman wielding that same punishing staff.

At that moment, she dodged a blow and used her own momentum to whirl around and bring the staff up the strike the bandit on the side of the head. The attacker fell bonelessly.

The woman planted her staff, and turned, panting. His suspicions were confirmed.

"Gabrielle?" he choked out, incredulously.

"Yes, Iolaus, it's me," she replied, but forestalled further welcomes for the moment, indicating the groaning vanquished. "Unless you want to set watches all night, we'd best do something with these guys."

Iolaus nodded, still bewildered, but turned to check Hercules. The big man was slowly levering himself onto one elbow. Iolaus knelt beside him and helped settle him leaning against an old log. He made a cursory check of the wound. Though the bandage was now bloodstained, it was not saturated.

Their gazes met. "Herc?" Iolaus inquired quietly.

"I'm okay, Iolaus. Really." Hercules glanced away from the fury in his friend's eyes.

Iolaus studied him a minute longer before nodding curtly. Anger darkened his blue eyes and compressed his lips tightly. He controlled both for the time being and turned to the girl.

"I'm with you, Gabrielle, but I'm damned if I know what we can do with them. I can't spare enough rope to tie them all up."

"I think I know what we can do," she replied. At that moment, one of the bandits near her stirred and groggily began to rise; she planted her staff in his back with an audible thwack and pressed him back down into the dirt. She looked back up and continued nonchalantly. "Just before I heard the commotion here, I passed an old hunter's pit down near the trail a short distance -- probably there since this ford seems to be a place animals some to drink, especially in the dry season. It's deep enough to keep these boys out of our hair tonight."

Iolaus sighed with relief. There was enough to worry him without wondering when these bully boys would return. He spotted his knife where it had landed near some bushes. "That sounds great. Let's do it."

At sword and staff point, the two friends roused three of the dazed bandits enough to get them to their feet and ordered them each to carry one of their unconscious fellows. They marched the six by torchlight to the edge of the pit, where Iolaus cut and secured a sturdy vine for the healthy ones to climb down. Iolaus and Gabrielle together lowered the three unconscious bandits into the pit by the arms, then let them fall, hopefully into their comrades' arms, not that either the girl nor the hunter worried much about it. Though the likelihood of the men climbing out any time soon was small, the two then pulled thick, fallen branches over the pit and weighted them with heavy rocks at each end, just to be sure.

They returned to camp quickly, concerned for Hercules. They found the big man lying where they had left him, tossing sticks on the fire to keep it going. As they approached, Hercules regarded Iolaus warily, waiting for the explosion he knew would come.

Iolaus neither spoke nor met his eyes, but began checking Hercules over more thoroughly. He was only peripherally aware of Gabrielle kneeling beside him. He was relieved that there were no new injuries, but Hercules' increased pallor and the darkening shadows under his eyes caused him to tighten his jaw against the fear-induced rage that fought for release. He turned his attention to the demigod's splinted leg, and its bloodied bandage. As he carefully unwrapped it, his gentle hands relayed none of the fear and anger that was nearly choking him. A small portion of the fear ebbed when he saw that the bleeding was not heavy and the wound itself was clean.

"One of the splints is broken -- I've got to cut a new one," he said tersely. As he started to rise, Gabrielle halted him with a firm touch to his shoulder. She pulled a very respectable belt knife from its sheath at her waist.

"I'll do it, Iolaus. Talk to Hercules before you burst." She rose in one lithe motion and headed for the trees.

Iolaus turned to look at Hercules and found him gazing back with the wariness still in his eyes.

Iolaus rapped out, fiercely. "Damn it, Herc, what the hell were you thinking?" "Iolaus, I wasn't --"

"Damn right, you weren't. Don't you trust me enough to let me take care of you?" Iolaus was shouting now.

Now Hercules' anger was stirring. He snapped back, "Of course I trust you, Iolaus! That's not it at all! I couldn't --"

"Why in Zeus' name couldn't you at least have given me a chance against those guys before jumping in? You could've really messed up your leg! You could've --" At this point Hercules reached up and slapped his hand over Iolaus' mouth.

"Damn it, Iolaus, would you at least let me get a word in edgewise?"

Iolaus' eyes still burned with fury as he knocked Hercules' hand away, but his silence gave Hercules his chance to speak.

"You're absolutely right about everything, Iolaus," he said, forcefully. "I wasn't thinking about anything, except that you needed help. You know I trust you with my life, but, damnit, I woke up to see you fighting a whole bunch of guys, and I reacted. Are you're gonna sit there and tell me that you would've done anything differently if our positions were reversed?"

Iolaus slumped back slightly, blowing his breath out in a deep sigh as he rubbed his hand over his face wearily. "It was still a bloody stupid thing to do, Herc!"

"Granted," Hercules replied, more mildly now, with a hint of a smile in his eyes as he sensed victory. "I guess you know how I felt after that fight with the mercenaries outside of Ephesus a few months ago? You were injured, and pulled the same kind of bloody stupid stunt, as I recall."

Iolaus' face reddened at the memories. He struggled to put his own anger and terror into a different context, but as he opened his mouth to speak, Hercules stopped him with a raised forefinger, saying, "And don't you dare try to tell me that that was different!"

Iolaus met his friend's gaze with a reluctant grin. "Damn, Hercules, sometimes I think we may know each other too well," Iolaus sighed. Hercules laughed, and Iolaus finally joined him. After a moment, though the laughter remained in his eyes, Iolaus continued very firmly.

"But I also remember that you told me that if I tried to do something that stupid again you'd knock me back down faster than Bacchus can empty a wineskin. So, you'd better chill out, buddy -- *I* just might be able to do that to you now."

"Yeah, you might at that," Hercules replied, equally rueful.

At that moment, Gabrielle strode back into the firelight. Iolaus studied her as she approached, suddenly realizing why he'd thought her so different than when they'd met six months ago. Gone was the demure long skirt, long-sleeved blouse and jacket he'd seen her wearing last. Now she worn a sleeveless halter top that left visible slender but strong arms and abdomen. A short skirt and boots completed her ensemble. But it was punishing staff she carried, and the increased maturity and confidence in her face that captured his attention most.

He rose to meet her with a grateful smile. "Gabrielle -- thank you. You're amazing with that staff of yours!"

She smiled and gave him the straight, smooth section of sapling ash. "Iolaus -- I'm glad I could help."

Then he opened his arms with relieved laughter and she walked into them. Into her hair he murmured, a catch in his voice. "Thank you for saving him!"

As she tightened her arms around him to show she understood, their hug was cut short by Hercules' plaintive voice.

"Hey, you know, *I'm* glad to see you, too, Gabrielle." The young woman pulled away from Iolaus, both of them laughing down at Hercules. She kneeled and rested her hands on Hercules' broad shoulders.

"And I'm just as glad to see you, Hercules, although not exactly under these circumstances," she replied, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. Iolaus knelt on Hercules' other side and started to work on repairing his handiwork.

"Last time we met you were hanging around with a certain warrior princess," Hercules said, wincing as Iolaus began to remove the straps that held the splints in place. "Will she be joining us?"

Gabrielle shook her head, smiling. "Two weeks ago, Xena received a message from King Melkos of Delphi. There were rumors that a bandit group in the area was planning an attack on Apollo's Oracle there, to try to steal the great offering treasures of the sanctuary. King Melkos wanted Xena's help to protect the Oracle and catch the bandits."

"Why didn't you go with her?" Hercules asked, unsteadily. Sweat had broken out on his pale face due to Iolaus' unavoidable manipulations of his broken leg.

"Because I had somewhere else I had to go. There was a special ceremony in the southern Amazon band, and I had to go, since I'm an Amazon princess there," Gabrielle replied, with studied and mischievous nonchalance.

Iolaus and Hercules glanced at each other then looked at Gabrielle with such similar expressions of confusion that Gabrielle couldn't help grinning. "You're ... an Amazon princess," Hercules finally stated slowly, as though trying to figure out if he heard correctly.

She nodded, with a bright expression, as though both of them knew all along. Again the two men exchanged questioning glances; Gabrielle had to work hard to keep her composure.

After a moment, Iolaus looked back at her, and asked hesitantly, "Did we ... did we know that when we met you before?"

Gabrielle paused as though considering. "Hm ... I don't think so ... since I wasn't an Amazon princess then." She finally burst out laughing at their now totally baffled expressions.

"Now I'm really confused," Hercules said, but then caught his breath suddenly. Iolaus looked at him worriedly.

"I've got the old splints off, Herc. It's probably going to hurt a bit more until I can get it re-strapped," Iolaus said grimly. "Hang on, okay? Gabrielle, can you help me stabilize his leg?"

"Sure, Iolaus." She gently and deftly took hold of Hercules' leg as Iolaus instructed, feeling much more confident in the task after her experiences helping Xena in similar situations. "We'll get you fixed up, Hercules, then I'll tell you the story of how I became an Amazon princess."

She was as good as her word. After the exhausting work of getting Hercules' leg re-splinted, Iolaus and Gabrielle first settled him comfortably propped against the old log, well-covered in blankets by the fire. Iolaus made him willow-bark tea, while Gabrielle added some of her supplies to finish preparing the meal. As they ate, Gabrielle, in excellent bardic fashion, spun the tale of the events surrounding the death of the Amazon princess, Terreis ... her dying gift of her own "right of caste" to Gabrielle ... the war that was almost fought over her death by the "hooves" and "harlots", as the Centaurs and Amazons called each other ... Gabrielle's training by Ephiny ... and the peace and new understanding that Gabrielle and Xena helped forge there.

"Wow," Iolaus said, shaking his head and grinning. "That was a close run thing. And how do you like your new status, your Highness?"

Gabrielle punched Iolaus in the shoulder. "C'mon, Iolaus, no teasing! I'm just sort of an adopted princess. Hercules, tell him not to --" she broke off as she glanced at the son of Zeus.

Iolaus snapped his attention to friend, but his concern melted into a gentle smile as he saw Hercules' eyes closing, and his half-empty plate about to slide from his relaxing fingers. The blond hunter put down his own plate and knelt beside the larger man. As Iolaus tried to take the plate gently from Hercules' slackening grip, the movement roused him and his eyes snapped open. Seeing his only his friend, Hercules smiled sleepily.

"Hey, pal, time to wake up and go to sleep," Iolaus said, placing the plate out of the way. Gabrielle's heart was touched at the tender humor of his voice, and his careful attentions to assist Hercules into a comfortable position for sleeping.

"Okay, thanks Mom," Hercules answered, grinning at his friend and sword brother. "How about a lullaby?"

"Hey, you got a bedtime story, from a bard, no less," Iolaus replied, grinning, slapping Hercules' gaunt face gently with the back of his fingers. "Much more and you'll be spoiled."

"Not by your singing," Hercules replied, with a chuckle.

Iolaus caught his friend's shoulder and shook it gently, shaking his head as he glanced over at Gabrielle. "Try to raise 'em right and see how they repay you -- no respect." Hercules chuckled again, and Iolaus squeezed his shoulder, grinning. "Now go to sleep, will you please?"

Hercules reached up and grasped Iolaus' hand. He smiled sleepily, ruefully. His eyes slowly closed, and in moments was asleep, his hand still loosely over Iolaus'.

Gabrielle, finishing her meal, studied Iolaus as he watched Hercules sleep. She watched as the smile faded from Iolaus' face, leaving it grim, worried and exhausted. After a few moments, Iolaus seemed to feel her eyes on him, and turned to meet her gaze, startled to remember she was there.

Iolaus left Hercules' side and returned to his seat, clearing his throat. "Hopefully he'll sleep now. He needs all he can get."

"How did his injury happen, Iolaus?" Gabrielle asked gently. "It must have been something incredibly strong to hurt Hercules like this."

"It was," he replied, bitterly, and went on to tell her, as concisely and emotionlessly as he could, of the fight with the griffon, of his struggle to save Hercules' life immediately thereafter, and his determination to get Hercules to the healer-priests of the Temple of Asclepius in Dendra who could best treat his terrible wound.

"Well, I'm just glad I met up with you," Gabrielle replied, shaking her head over Iolaus' story. "With two of us pulling, we might make a league or two tomorrow over what you did today. I can't believe you've come this far this fast. Hercules must weigh a ton!"

"He does ... wait a minute -- 'the two of us'? Gabrielle, you don't have to do this," Iolaus protested.

"Well, of course I do, Iolaus! How in all Gaia could I leave you and Hercules in this situation?"

Iolaus rubbed a weary, bandaged hand over his face, his thoughts cloudy and slow. "Won't Xena be wondering where you are, and be worried?"

"Iolaus, Xena probably won't even be there when I get there. No telling when she'll be done at Delphi. Besides which, she knows I'm pretty good at taking care of myself now."

"I believe it!" He grinned at her in amazement. "I see glimpses of that hopeful young bard who stayed with me and took care of me when I was injured in our fight to free Prometheus. But, wow, I hardly know you for the powerful Amazon warrior you've become."

Gabrielle giggled. "Have I really changed that much?" "Yes, indeed!"

Gabrielle sobered a bit. She glanced up at him and asked, a bit wistfully, "Good changes?"

Iolaus watched her with an arrested expression in his eyes. "The best," he answered, quietly, smiling at her in a way that made her blush and drop her gaze. Flustered and irritated at herself, she got up and began cleaning up the supper things. Iolaus started to help her, but she stopped him.

"You've done quite enough today already," she said firmly. "I'll do this."

Iolaus smiled gratefully at her, too tired to argue. "Thanks, Gabrielle."

"So -- no more arguments, understand? We'll get Hercules to Dendra together."

"Together sounds good, warrior-bard."

They shared a grin. Then Iolaus rolled himself in his blankets close to Hercules to be able to check on him if needed in the night, and was asleep in moments. Gabrielle finished preparing the camp for the night and snuggled down in her blankets on the other side of the fire. Her thoughts kept her awake for a time, and most of them were centered on Iolaus.

When they had met rescuing Prometheus, Gabrielle had been awed at coming to know Hercules, but found Iolaus more approachable, more "ordinary", as she had told him. Watching Iolaus fight by Hercules' side had inspired her in part to realize her ambition to be more that just Xena's friend, but a true fighting comrade. Iolaus' courage and strength in struggling to continue with their mission when he himself had been seriously wounded had inspired her with either a crush, hero-worship, or something more -- which one, she was not sure.

At their parting, Iolaus had kissed her, but she had felt in him more of an older-brotherly tenderness than a true attraction. Perhaps it was her own growth and changes since then, but now she sensed in him something different. And what could that mean? Despite the difference in their ages, Iolaus was very handsome and very charming -- she grinned in the darkness of the dying fire -- after all, half the women in Greece said so. Her smile faded as she thought of how her own life had changed since she'd first developed that hero worship for him. Was there a place in her life now for that kind of relationship with him? She fell asleep pondering this very important question.

The next morning started very early. Hercules' voice calling out in a restless dream awoke both of them before dawn. Iolaus was up and at his friend's side immediately, with Gabrielle close behind. They roused Hercules, but he was groggy, irritable, and his skin seemed warm to the touch. Iolaus checked the bandage anxiously but was relieved to find it free of new blood or other drainage.

The other symptoms worried him, however. Gabrielle broke camp while he cajoled the irritable demi-god to eat a morsel and drink the mixture of herbs he'd prepared.

After they settled Hercules onto the travois, Iolaus wrapped Gabrielle's hands carefully. "Since you're bound and determined to help, we'd better try at least to keep your hands protected."

"What about yours, Iolaus?" Hercules asked.

Iolaus gazed ruefully at his friend, not realizing that Hercules' had noticed his blisters. "Oh, I think they're not so bad today." Nonetheless, Hercules made Iolaus wrap his hands as well.

They forded the river and started off on a rough trail that led toward the mountains. Iolaus soon decided that working together to pull the travois was both better and worse than doing it by himself. Gabrielle definitely pulled her weight and decreased the strain somewhat, but since there was not room for them both between the poles, they each had to walk on the outside, each holding a pole of the litter in both hands, which twisted their bodies just enough to be uncomfortable. However, they worked out the best pulling positions after a while and were able to go a bit further and faster together than Iolaus could go alone.

At least, they did for a time. The terrain before them was gradually rising towards a ridge of low mountains, and the trail became even more rocky. The footing made it impossible for the two of them to pull together, which meant Iolaus had to do it alone in these areas. Gabrielle insisted on trying, but she could not pull the heavy stretcher uphill and over that broken terrain by herself. Iolaus' hopes for a quicker journey began to evaporate.

But there was nothing to do but to keep going against the odds, and Iolaus knew a lot about that.

Some time later, Iolaus stopped breathlessly after struggling to wrestle the stretcher up one particularly treacherous slope. Both he and Hercules needed a rest. His own muscles were trembling with the strain and effort, and Hercules was pale and silent from the pain of all the jolting. With a final grunt of effort, Iolaus propped the stretcher against some rocks in a shaded spot at the top of the hill so that Hercules was in a comfortably upright position.

Gabrielle retrieved the waterskins and gave them to both men. After Hercules drank, she poured some of the water onto a cloth and bathed his face gently. Iolaus watched approvingly as he himself gulped water. Then he poured some of the water over his own head, sighing in the cooling action of the water and the spring breeze that lifted his wet, shaggy curls.

They spotted a small brook glittering below in the narrow valley on the other side of the hill and decided that this spot was as good as any for lunch and a rest. They ate bread, dried meat and cheese, but Iolaus made a small fire so he could heat water for willow-bark and echinacea tea for Hercules. Before much longer, Iolaus was relieved to see the tense lines of pain in Hercules' face beginning to relax.

As they rested, they looked out on the broad vista of rolling hills that stretched out before them. "Is this the way you guys came before?" she asked.

Iolaus had a mouthful of bread and cheese, so Hercules answered her. "No. We by-passed this whole range. We came down from Dendra by boat." He pointed off in the distance towards a notch in the tumbled hills. A sparkle of silver showed the course of the wide river that they had camped beside last night. "That notch is where the river goes through this range of hills. It was a lot faster coming through this way, and it would be wonderful if we could get back by that route, but the current would be against us, with several sets of rapids." He yawned, stretched, and winced a bit as he resettled his injured leg. Iolaus watched him anxiously but just chewed and said nothing.

"Yes, but wouldn't the river valley be an easier route for us to follow now, rather than climbing these hills?" Gabrielle continued.

Iolaus swallowed his food with a sip of water and replied. "I wish it was, Gabrielle, and that's a good thought. Unfortunately, at that same notch you see on the skyline, the river shoots through a long, narrow canyon. Great rapids. Herc and I had a lot of fun running those." The two men grinned at each other, remembering those moments of freedom and joy. "But there's no bank there for nearly a league .. no way to get through, and the cliffs too high to get around." Gabrielle turned to look up the tall slope that they were beginning to ascend. "So we have to go up and over?"

Iolaus nodded. "There's an ancient trail of sorts up this way. It's really the most direct route. The river curves around behind the ridge and Dendra's just a few leagues south. It's just going to take longer over this rough ground."

"I didn't come this way on my trip into Amazon territory. These hills -- this whole region seems fairly desolate -- for no good reason. There's good land on the lower slopes, good grazing up here. Where are the people?"

"Haven't been any people around here for ages." Hercules glanced at Iolaus then back to her and quirked a grin. "You mean Iolaus hasn't told you?"

"Told me?" Gabrielle echoed, glancing at Iolaus with ominously narrowed eyes and folding her arms. "Told me what?"

Iolaus eyed her warily. "No, I haven't told her." He shrugged. "I thought she knew."

"Blast it, Iolaus, WHAT did you think I already knew?!" Gabrielle snapped.

"Surely a good bard like you knew these were the Haunted Hills?"

Gabrielle stared at him in consternation. "You mean to tell me that we're going into the Haunted Hills and you didn't think I needed to know?"

"Hey, didn't I just say I thought you already knew?"

"No, I didn't know!" Gabrielle stormed. "Why in Gaia's name do we have to go this way? Iolaus! -- the stories, the legends about this area -- !"

"-- Say that this was once the site of a great kingdom that sided with the Titans in their war with Zeus," interjected Iolaus in a rapid, singsong voice, "and their unrepentant pride and arrogance even after Zeus won brought his curse down upon them. And now they are gone and of their kingdom there is left only a few ancient stones, but the land remembers ... yadda, yadda, yadda." Iolaus shook his head. "Gabrielle, I'm surprised that a bard like yourself would get so caught up in these old wives' tales."

Hercules had turned to Gabrielle, but did a double take looking back at Iolaus, and burst out laughing. "I think I just heard the pot calling the amphora black."

Gabrielle looked at the son of Zeus quizzically, but before she could question him, Iolaus, pleased to see the faint flush of color that had brightened Hercules' pale features, interjected with a chuckle, "Never mind him, Gabrielle, he's delirious."

Gabrielle studied them both like naughty schoolboys. " It's common knowledge that the Haunted Hills have been a place of strange happenings and evil reputation since ancient times. People have disappeared here, or come out incoherent with terror."

"Look, if it makes you feel any better, Hercules and I skirted this region about ten years ago. We didn't disappear and we didn't see anything strange. We just heard the wind in the pines and the rustle of marmots in the rocks -- those and a good imagination were probably the seeds of all the legends."

"Now tell her What Really Happened, Iolaus!" Hercules said, grinning, regarding his best friend with sleepy affection. He was now leaning back against the support of the travois, and the relaxed lines of his big body made Iolaus sigh with relief that his friend's pain was greatly lessened.

Gabrielle crowed, "Aha! Tell me more, Hercules!"

"Now, Herc --" Iolaus began, with a pretended glare.

Hercules grinned at Gabrielle so infectiously she could almost forget the dark circles under his eyes and how easily he had tired after eating only a small amount. "Trust me, Gabrielle. When Iolaus and I camped just on the border of these hills one night a number of years ago, he kept jumping at every sound, hearing strange creatures scrabbling around in the rocks and the gibbering of the dead all around. Of course it was just the marmots and the wind, but it was hard to convince him of that. It's a good thing we just skirted the edge of these hills."

Gabrielle managed to get her laughter under control. She looked pointedly at Iolaus and said, "A good imagination, eh? Iolaus -- you should be a bard!"

Hercules, stifling another yawn, replied with an innocence belied by the wicked grin he shot Iolaus. "Yeah, Gabrielle, he has a pretty amazing gift of making a totally different tale out of what really happened."

"The two of you are just jealous," Iolaus sniffed, and Hercules and Gabrielle laughed harder.

The banter continued as Iolaus and Gabrielle began to pack away the food and prepared to resume the journey. But it wasn't long before Iolaus addressed a remark to Hercules, and, not hearing a reply, turned to glance at him. The demi-god was relaxed in peaceful slumber, the lines of pain momentarily smoothed from his face.

"Good -- it worked." He paused a moment to study Hercules' face before completing his work at the fire.

"You put more than just willow-bark and echinacea in that tea, didn't you?" Gabrielle observed.

Iolaus nodded as he gathered up the cups and the empty waterskins. The two of them headed down the slope toward the brook as he continued. "I added valerian and dried poppy. Herc's got a constitution like an ox, and for him to show signs of pain like earlier would be like you or me screaming with agony. He hates to be drugged, but we've got to keep going and the trail's not going to improve significantly."

Gabrielle nodded. "You did the right thing." She studied the trail as in wound through the narrow valley and up a higher hill. "Looks like we can make better time at least through this valley. You know I'll help you wherever possible."

"I know." They reached the small stream and knelt there; Iolaus began filling the waterskins while Gabrielle took the cups and began washing them. Iolaus glanced at her with a brief smile.

"Thanks for your help and the encouragement, Gabrielle."

"We'll get him there, Iolaus."

"Yeah." His jaw muscles tightened as he looked down the trail. "But will it be soon enough?" he whispered.

Gabrielle had no answer she felt she could truthfully give, only comfort. She set the clean cups aside to dry and reached out to clasp Iolaus' broad shoulder. He glanced at her with a small smile as he completed his task, then reached up and squeezed her hand in mute thanks.

She sighed as they rose to return up the hill. "I just wish we could go the way I came, from the south towards Galatea."

Iolaus glanced up at the sun to measure the time. "Gabrielle, that's skirting this whole range of hills, and it would add another twenty leagues to get to Dendra." "Why does it have to be Dendra, Iolaus?"

"Because the healers of the temple of Asclepius in Dendra are the best in all Greece, and they're right over these hills. About another twelve or thirteen leagues from here -- as the crow flies anyway. Time is short if we're going to save Herc's leg ... maybe his life." Iolaus' voice was suddenly steel. "And I *am* going to save him."

Gabrielle took a deep breath, and thought of the exhausting league and a half they had traversed this morning. She blew the breath out in a sigh and nodded. They reached the sleeping Hercules and repacked the few items they had used. Gabrielle silently dug out more lengths of old linen and again bound up Iolaus' palms, then he returned the favor.

She grasped one of the stretcher poles and faced the higher slopes of the Haunted Hills with a deep, resigned sigh. "All right, let's go then."

As they started off, Iolaus looked at her and grinned. "Don't forget -- you're an Amazon now. No Amazon is afraid of a ghost story."

"Yeah, but no Amazon training has taught me how to fight ghosts either," she replied shortly.

Iolaus just chuckled as they struck off across the steep valley.

They pushed on past the time that the sun fell behind the higher mountains that lined the western side of the pass. After a very brief rest near sunset, Iolaus decided to push on, making the best of the long twilight. However, studying Gabrielle's slow movements and trembling muscles, he realized that the young warrior-bard was exhausted, and so would not let her help afterwards. The trail was at this point too treacherous for mistakes. Hercules watched them both with his blue eyes full of worry about them, and frustration at being the burden that they had to bear.

When they started off again for the last push of the day, Gabrielle followed the stretcher, wearily carrying a bundle of some of the supplies to help Iolaus as much as possible. As they climbed on, she slowly began to notice strange sounds that seemed unrelated to the rough scrape of the stretcher poles on the rocky ground. Curious, faint scratchings whispered in the rocks around them; faint noises that she could just make out over the crunching of their boots in the gritty soil and the hissing rasp of the dragging poles. Even more puzzling was that, if for some reason, Iolaus had to pause in his progress, these sounds continued for a brief instant, then ceased abruptly. She supposed the sounds could be made by small creatures like marmots, or even birds, since there was a faint occasional twittering that accompanied them. But it was strange that they saw no trace of either type of animal.

As the light from the sky grew dimmer, Gabrielle also seemed to catch glimpses of quicksilver movement out of the corner of her eyes. Whenever she turned her full gaze to the spot, there was nothing, but the phenomenon continued.

Xena would tell me that I'm tired and my imagination is playing tricks on me again, she thought to herself. I just wish it would leave me alone.

She glanced ahead to see if Iolaus seemed to be noticing these sounds or movements. But, from his strained focus only on the trail ahead, his panting breaths, and the lines of weariness in every line of his compact, muscled body, she could tell that Iolaus was mostly oblivious to their surroundings. He was obviously pushing himself beyond exhaustion, trying to get as far as possible before the light failed completely. Hercules was dozing restlessly.

I sure don't need to bother Iolaus with my fantasies right now, her thoughts continued. Forget about it!

But that was easier said than done, and the quick movements seemed to increase as the light grew dimmer.

Iolaus made the last half league alone just on sheer determination. But despite his heroic efforts, they knew that they could not have made much more than three leagues totally. When they finally stopped in a small copse sheltered by wind-sculpted pines and large boulders, Iolaus began setting up camp with a grim silence. The only comfort she could think to give him was to comment on how well Hercules had slept, which eased some of the worry lines in his face.

However, as soon as Hercules awoke, she watched in admiration as Iolaus pushed his fears and fatigue behind a lighthearted facade of banter and teasing of both Hercules and herself. Her heart overflowed for him, as he refused to show any sign of worry to his best friend.

"Well, Gabrielle," he said, as he scraped the last morsels from his plate, "we've been in the Haunted Hills for quite a while now. Have you noticed anything strange?"

Gabrielle folded her arms and glared at him. "Besides you, you mean?"

Hercules laughed and Iolaus pretended to look affronted. "Why, Gabrielle, you should be ashamed. You insult me, and I'm only trying to help!"

And you don't really expect me to say that I have noticed some strange things, she thought, knowing that most of his banter was for Hercules' sake.

"Oh, is that what you call it?" she asked, grinning.

Iolaus looked innocent and noble. "I just want to help you to be able to face your unfounded fears."

"You mean to display my overactive imagination, don't you?"

"Sort of like you did the time we came through this way, Iolaus?" Hercules asked slyly.

"Now, Herc, let's not get personal. At least Gabrielle and I have an imagination."

They all laughed at that, but all at once in the midst of his laughter, Hercules stiffened. Both color and laughter drained from his face. He closed his eyes tightly and caught his breath, obviously in pain. Iolaus dropped his plate and was at his friend's side in a heartbeat. Hercules grasped his friend's hand in a clasp that Gabrielle could see made Iolaus' fingers turn blue, but the smaller man held on wordlessly, doing all he could to share his friend's pain.

After a moment, Hercules began to relax, as the pain must have subsided. He glanced down at their clasped hands and back up to Iolaus' face with anapologetic look. "Sorry, Iolaus," he said hoarsely.

There was a brief pause as Iolaus swallowed convulsively. "The things you'll do, Herc --" his voice quavered and he paused to control it -- "to change the subject."

Hercules chuckled weakly. "Well, it worked, didn't it?"

Gabrielle got the distinct impression for a brief moment that there was a communication going on between the two friends that was much more and deeper than what was being said aloud. But then Iolaus had released Hercules' hand and turned to help her clear up the remains of supper.

Iolaus tried to maintain the lighthearted spirit, but Gabrielle could tell that his heart wasn't in it by the worry that lurked in his eyes when Hercules wasn't looking. She could also tell that he wasn't fooling Hercules. As she began to ready the camp for the night, she saw the demi-god studying his friend's strained face and fatigued movements with a faint, worried frown when Iolaus wasn't watching.

Hercules' concern was evident when Iolaus was trying to prepare a healing brew, and his normally deft hands were shaking and clumsy with fatigue.

"Iolaus, let me do that," he said, leaning forward and taking the makeshift mortar and pestle out of his friend's hands. "You're tired out, and your hands are a mess." "Now, Herc, you don't have to --"

"Iolaus, it's my leg that's broken, not my hands. I can do this." He looked up at his friend's suddenly stricken face, and continued, gently. "And while I'm at it, I'm going to make up enough for two. You need it as much as much as I do."

Iolaus' face twisted. "Not hardly."

Hercules glanced up at him. "Don't think that I don't know what you're doing to yourself, Iolaus. Take it a bit easier. I'm doing okay."

Iolaus looked down at his treacherously shaking hands. "You are, right now. I want to make sure it stays that way by getting you to Dendra as soon as possible." Hercules held out the rough bowl of ground herbs in one hand as he put his other hand on his friend's downcast head. "Not if it means killing yourself in the process." He said, gently, almost too low for Gabrielle to hear. "That price is too high for me."

Iolaus took the bowl, then reached up, clasped Hercules' hand, brought it down and held it for a moment. Without looking up, he said roughly, "I'll make it, Herc. Don't worry, and don't underestimate me."

As Iolaus began to pull away, Hercules' hand turned in his, and grasped his wrist. As Iolaus looked up in mild surprise at the strength of the grip, Hercules met his eyes squarely and said, fiercely, "I can't help worrying about you, any more than you can help worrying about me. But I've *never* underestimated you, Iolaus. I know what it takes for you to be my partner."

Their eyes met, and after a moment, Iolaus' dropped away from the sheer intensity of his friend's ice-blue gaze. He squeezed Hercules hand, then looked up, grinning, his sapphire blue eyes suspiciously bright.

"Yeah, maybe, but just think of all the perks!"

He turned away laughing, and Hercules had to grin. The demi-god made sure, with Gabrielle's help, that Iolaus drank a dose of the medicinal teas, as well. Not much more was said until they all wearily exchanged their goodnights. Gabrielle fell asleep watching Iolaus watch Hercules sleep, and thinking of friendship ...

... to be awakened hours later by an intensification of the sounds she had heard earlier. And now there was a strange high-pitched chittering added to the mix.

She glanced over and saw the unmoving, cocooned shapes of her friends side by side on the other side of the tiny, flickering fire. She could just make out Iolaus' arm resting on Hercules' chest. He must have been afraid that his friend might wake up in pain, and he would be too tired to hear the demi-god, especially after having taken a dose of the medicinal tea. They were obviously too deeply asleep to hear the strange noises.

She lay frozen in her blankets, listening breathlessly. Just listen to that, she thought. It almost sounds like speech. A quick glance around the campsite made her catch her breath abruptly.

Scores of glowing eyes surrounded them. Between the starlight and tiny tongues of flame, she could make out very small, manlike forms. The chittering sound was very obviously speech between them.

She grabbed for her staff only to have it whisked from under her fingers, and her wrist caught and held by several small, strong, manlike hands.

"Iolaus!" she shouted in warning, as her other wrist was caught.

For a split second there was no response from across the fire. "Iolaus -- come on -- wake up!" she shouted again.

Suddenly the smaller form across the fire exploded into action. Iolaus leapt to his feet, wild-eyed and disoriented from sleep, but obviously sizing up the situation at a glance. He grasped the end of a stick protruding from the fire. The burning end flamed up as waved it in a defensive arc around himself and Hercules.

Gabrielle saw Hercules rousing. Iolaus reached one hand down almost unconsciously to check the demi-god's position, perhaps to communicate urgency. Hercules pushed himself into a sitting position, also glancing around quickly.

"Let her go!" Iolaus ordered, sternly. "Who are you? What do you want?"

There was an abrupt and angry outburst of the sibilant voices. Several moved closer to ring Iolaus, who waved the burning brand warningly around himself and Hercules.

Gabrielle took advantage of her captors' attention being on Iolaus and jerked one hand free. She backhanded the tiny beings that had held her, and sprang to her feet, dragging those that held her other arm along with her. Iolaus and Hercules saw more of the little men advancing on her, their eyes glowing phosphorescently.

Iolaus kept the growing numbers of attackers around them at bay still with the flaming brand, but the two men knew it was a losing battle in the face of so many. Suddenly there was a familiar, buzzing streak. Hercules darted a long arm upward across Iolaus and caught a small arrow just before it buried itself in Iolaus' ribs.

It had been so close the razor-sharp stone arrowhead cut into Iolaus' skin in a bloody scratch. Iolaus drew in a deep breath, as he and Hercules exchanged brief, relieved glances.

"Thanks, Hercules!" he said, gratefully, as they turned back to their foes.

But suddenly, the press of attackers around the two men drew back. Several of the little men looked at each other, chattering and pointing, the name, "Hercules", now audible in their speech. They turned to their comrades, shouting and gesticulating, and calling the name of "Hercules".

Iolaus watched in total confusion as the attackers relaxed their combative stances. He glanced over and saw that Gabrielle's captors had released her, and stepped back. He looked back at Hercules and saw a dawning comprehension in his friend's eyes as he looked more closely at the little men.

"Iolaus, Gabrielle, everyone -- hold it!" Hercules shouted, his deep voice cutting through all the yelling and chattering.

Gabrielle and Iolaus paused, looking at Hercules in some astonishment.

"What's happening, Herc?" Iolaus asked, still in his defensive stance, eyes darting around the circle of small beings.

"I think I know these guys. At least, maybe not these particular ones, but some like them."

Hercules explanation was cut short. One of the taller of the pygmy warriors stepped toward him, the others making way for him deferentially. Iolaus held the burning stick a bit closer, but Hercules waved him aside.

"You ... Hercules?" the fellow asked, pointing at Hercules. The son of Zeus, sitting, was still taller than the small leader.

"Yes, I'm Hercules," the big man replied, with a hesitant smile. "Are you the Cercopes?"

A wave of chatter and nodding heads swept over the crowd of little people. The fellow in front of Hercules raised his hand imperatively and the noise ceased. He studied Hercules' face carefully. "Any Big One could say he Hercules," he said, in heavily-accented, pidgin Greek. "How you know of Cercopes?"

Hercules regarded him gravely, but Iolaus could see the suspicion of a laugh lurking in his friend's eyes. "I caught two of your people who were accused of being thieves, in Lydia about ten or twelve years ago. Their names were Passalus and Acmon."

More whispers greeted this statement, but Hercules went on. "I was taking them back to the Lydian queen for punishment, but I came to realize that much of their *thievery* came as a result of trying to survive when more and more ... ah ... Big Ones were moving into their lands. So, I let them go, and helped them find their way out of Lydia."

"Besides," he whispered to Iolaus, under cover of the general chatter that followed, "they made me laugh!"

The leader nodded and the noise ceased. "Passalus and Acmon sent word through all the tribes that Hercules is name known for helping Cercopes. We not fight now, we help. I am Aru Orcus, head man of the Cercopes, and I say this."

There was a general cheer from the little people around them, who surged forward, this time in friendly curiosity to observe the strangers in their land. Gabrielle came over to sit beside Hercules and Iolaus and they sat down with the chief and some of his warriors. Some of the Cercopes made themselves comfortable on rocks nearby, while others obviously went off to hunt or forage. Iolaus and Gabrielle closely studied the little people who were observing them, as Hercules did his best to converse with Aru Orcus.

The tallest of the Cercopes were no more than three feet high, but the people were perfectly proportional, resembling tiny humans much more than dwarfs. However, they were rock solid, as though made from the stone they seemed to be so at home in. They all had thick black hair, and dark eyes; it was not long before some had ventured close enough to touch Iolaus' golden waves, or Gabrielle's red-gold tresses and peer at Hercules' ice-blue eyes in wonder. They were clothed in well-dressed skins and soft mocassin-like boots, and their weapons were stone-tipped. Gabrielle elbowed Iolaus in amazement at one point, pointing at a shy little female passing near them with her tiny infant strapped to her back. From their clothing and boots of soft, well-ornamented skins, Gabrielle and Iolaus observed that they must be a hunting tribe that knew nothing of farming or weaving.

In their halting conference, the three travelers slowly came to understand several facts about their new allies. They were nocturnal creatures who hated the burning heat of Helios' sun chariot, and withdrew underground during the day. They were understandably cautious of "Big Ones" as they called humans, but seemed to feel themselves fierce and capable warriors. And after what they'd already experienced, Iolaus was unwilling to test the Cercopes' skills further.

Communicating with them was quite difficult, however, even with Hercules' demi-godly perceptions. But it was fairly evident that, because of Hercules' mercy toward members of the Cercopes' tribe, they wanted to help the travelers in any way possible -- with the understanding that it would not be during the day. And there was something more -- a warning which neither of the three friends could comprehend clearly.

"Bad water coming," Aru Orcus told them gravely. "Hercules and friends must make careful! *N'mfala* and bad water. Must beware bad water."

" 'Bad water'?" Hercules echoed, looking at Iolaus and Gabrielle for enlightenment that neither could offer. " 'Bad' ... how, Aru Orcus? Why is it bad?"

"And what is N'mfala?" Gabrielle asked in puzzlement.

Many of the warriors tried to answer at once. The chief shushed them with a curt gesture, and tired to explain, but his words were so ambigious and garbled that none of the three travelers understood anything further.

"Well, it's obvious that there's a problem with a stream or lake or some kind of water we're approaching." Gabrielle spoke as they conferred in the general babble that ensued as soon as the head man finished speaking.

" 'Bad water'," Iolaus mused. "Water we can't drink, do you suppose? A poisoned lake or something?"

Hercules shrugged. "Could be. Or it could be a dangerous ford or a treacherous riverbank."

"Or a stream prone to flash floods," Gabrielle said, then glanced up at the two men a bit nervously, "Or something dangerous in the water -- eels or serpents."

"I suppose we'll just have to keep our eyes open," Hercules glanced around at the chittering throng and had to smile a little. "They may look cute, but it takes a lot of sense and skill for them to survive here. I don't think we can dismiss what they say."

Iolaus shook his head. "No, but it is possible that what they consider 'bad' may not be so bad to us."

"True." Hercules grinned at Iolaus. "Looks like we've found the source for the hauntings in these hills."

"Yeah -- 'just my imagination' was it, Herc?" Iolaus shot back, grinning.

"Okay, you told me so, Iolaus. You were right all along." Hercules clapped his best friend on the back. "It had to happen sooner or later."

"Hey, don't let him fool you, Gabrielle," Iolaus objected. "He just doesn't want to admit how often I am right."

Gabrielle laughed. "Don't worry, Iolaus. I know how hard it is to deal with someone who seems to know all the answers all the time."

As Hercules protested and Iolaus laughed delightedly, Gabrielle continued, glancing around at the looming hills. "But do you suppose that the Cercopes are the entire reason for the hauntings?"

Hercules started to answer, but a yawn interrupted his words.

"That's it!" Iolaus declared firmly. "This little pajama party's gone on long enough! You need to rest, Herc. Tell these mighty mites to bed down or head out or whatever and let us get what sleep we can for the rest of the night."

It took a bit of doing, but the message finally got through. With several parting promises to be looking out for their new friends and adjurations about the 'bad water', the Cercopes melted away into the tumbled landscape. It didn't take the tired threesome long to get settled, and sleep claimed them once again.

It was late afternoon of the next day when they came to the next body of water, a rushing stream in a high valley. The trail had steadily climbed all day till this point, and Iolaus despaired of even making two leagues. There had even been several places when it was necessary for Hercules to get out of the stretcher due to rocky slopes too steep for them to pull him over. With the help of both his friends and Gabrielle's staff, he could only hop slowly one-legged over the ridge.

Needless to say, everyone was exhausted. Iolaus and Gabrielle were footsore and aching with muscle strain, and Hercules now had a bone-white pallor Iolaus knew came in part from increasing pain. So when they topped the rise and looked down into this wider, smoother high valley with its broad, clear stream, their wariness was tempered by a great deal of relief.

"Well, there's the water, but I don't see anything bad about it," Gabrielle said, panting, as she and Iolaus prepared to pull Hercules down into the valley.

Iolaus shook his head. "Neither do I. It's clear and beautiful. Gently sloping banks, shallow ford. Of course, there may be something we can't see from up here."

As they made their way down into the valley, however, there was still no sign of anything dangerous in or near the water. The trail led down toward the broad ford, where water no more than a foot deep gurgled busily over numerous small stones. Further downstream, larger rocks were in greater abundance, and the stream's course through and around them increased the water's force. Just below the ford a sudden drop off in the land had created a small waterfall that tumbled into a wider and obviously deeper pool. Wide, smooth, grassy banks broken by occasional boulders surrounded the pool on the near side, with the far bank climbing gently but more steadily amid trees, rhododendrons, and boulders. On the near side, several large beech trees provided appealing shade.

The weary travelers left the trail and made their way down the hill to this inviting shade. Iolaus and Gabrielle collapsed gratefully. Hercules too was glad to get out of the brilliant sunshine. The day was quite warm, well past the chills of the spring morning and well before the cold night. High scudding clouds and a cooler breeze seemed to indicate that the evening's weather might change back into something a bit more wintry, however.

Still watching and observing the area carefully, they could find no problems at all. Iolaus warily took a tiny sip of the water and found it pure and very cold. By the time the three travelers had finished their cold venison and berries, Iolaus still felt fine, so they drank from the stream and refilled their waterskins with its water.

Iolaus had new worries, besides the constant ache of his fear for Hercules' condition. Hercules had suffered a grueling morning and needed rest, despite the urgency to get him to the healers. And now their food supplies were beginning to diminish.

He was recalled from his reverie by Hercules. "Iolaus, you've been too quiet. What are you worrying about now?"

Iolaus glanced up at his friend and saw again the lines of pain in the demigod's handsome face, and the darker circles under his eyes. The hunter fought to hide his growing concern by grinning in exasperation. "Gods, Herc, I don't say anything for a few minutes, and I'm accused of worrying. To hear you tell it, I babble nonstop."

"Well, if the sandal fits ..." Hercules chuckled, and Gabrielle laughed.

"You guys bicker just like Xena and me," she said. "Feels like home."

Iolaus shook his head with a grin. He rose to pull out his bow from where it had been lashed to one of the travois poles. "I never bicker."

Over Hercules' laughing protests, he went on. "I was just thinking that, before we go on, we're going to need to hunt. Our food's getting a bit low, and this valley looks like a good place for game."

Iolaus was unwrapping his bowstring from oiled cloth as he spoke. He strung the bow and tested the tautness of the string. " And Herc, you can get a bit of rest without us jolting you over more rocks."

"That sounds like a good idea," Gabrielle replied, nodding firmly. "Oh, and I noticed some plants over on the other bank that have tuber-like roots that are good roasted. I'll dig those, and get more berries, too."

Hercules shook his head. "If you and Gabrielle are going to gather food, then I need to help, too. You can push my stretcher over near the edge of the pool and give me your fishing stuff, Iolaus. I've seen a couple of fish jump already."

"I don't know, Herc," Iolaus protested. "I wanted you to rest."

"I'll be resting," Hercules argued. "I'll take whatever potions you want me to, and I'll rest ... *while* I'm fishing."

There was something in Hercules tone that Iolaus heard as his friend's frustration over not being able to help, over being a burden and a drain on his friends' strength. That unspoken communication overcame Iolaus' resistance.

"Okay, then. It really would help if you could get us a fish or two, Herc," Iolaus conceded. "But you've got to take your medicines, and something for pain."

"I don't think I'll argue with you there," Hercules replied, wincing, and shifting his weight carefully to achieve a more comfortable position.

"Good. Let's do it."

After dosing Hercules as planned, they propped him in the travois on the bank of the pool with the fishing supplies. Iolaus caught up his quiver of arrows and set off downstream in search of a likely thicket for small game. Gabrielle grabbed a digging stick and a small basket from her carry sack. Not needing her staff, she leaned it against the rock against which Hercules' stretcher was propped.

"You might land a big one that needs a good bop on the head," she teased him. "Or the boojum that lives in the bad water." He grinned and waved as she turned to walk up to the ford and cross the stream.

Hercules did land a couple of good ones fairly quickly, but didn't need to resort to the staff. He re-baited his hook and tossed the weighted string back into the water. It was not long, however, before the lullaby of the waterfall, the faint warmth of the westering sun, and the medicine in his system conspired to cause his eyes to close, just as Iolaus had secretly hoped it would. His arms slowly relaxed, and his head leaned back deeper into the support of the litter.

Unseen by the sleeping Hercules, in the center of the pool, a small fountain of water began bubbling up, filled with golden-green sparkles. Magically, the water flowed *upward* and outward until it had sculpted itself into the translucent form of a woman, apparently waist deep in water that was much deeper.

Gradually, the form took on more substance and became solid, now obviously an exotically beautiful woman. The deep green-blue of the pool was reflected in the aquamarine depths of her eyes, which were almond-shaped and swept upward at the corners. Her hair flowed over her shoulders in rich, teal waves. She wore a clinging garment that seemed to be made from the jade green leaves of water plants, and covered little of her pale, smooth, golden-green skin.

The green-blue eyes were focused on the sleeping Hercules, and the gaze that was fixed on him was intent, possessive, and implacable. She began gliding toward him, moving as smoothly as the flowing water.

Suddenly, a fish nibbled at Hercules' line, and the string pulling on his fingers was enough to startle him out of his light sleep. He caught at the line, blinking, but immediately his eyes fell on the strange woman gliding slowly toward him.

She paused, meeting his eyes hypnotically with her deep green-blue gaze.

"Who are you?" Hercules asked, his voice hoarse -- from sleep but also from some atavistic need that seemed to rise up from his loins and engulf him.

"I am Kalyke," she replied, in a soft, fluid voice that was like water trickling over stones. "This is my place."

There was a small voice frantically crying of danger deep in Hercules' mind, but the pulse of desire throbbed deeper and more insistently, and drowned out that voice. "What are you?"

"I am the spirit of this water." She stared at him silently a moment longer, then continued. "You are beautiful. You eyes are bluer that this water. You are here and I claim you. Now you are mine."

Hercules shook his head, but could not frame his denial in words. She glided a little closer, stopped, and then began to sing, a wordless, swelling, magnetic melody. It was as sweet as falling water, as compelling as the tide. It flooded his last rational thoughts, drowning his mind with hunger. The only thing that could sate him was the sight of her wildly beautiful face, the taste of her full lips, the feel of her golden body beneath his. With that need came a mystical strength from somewhere outside himself, and slowly he pushed himself to his feet.

His damaged leg buckled, and he caught at the rock beside him to steady himself, his glassy gaze never leaving her aquamarine eyes. His fingers touched the staff leaning there, and he grasped it and steadied himself on one foot, then slowly began hobbling toward her.

At that moment, Iolaus was walking back upstream, happily examining the plump partridges he had bagged. The ease with which he had found the game had been uplifting, and he was beginning to think that perhaps things might go smoothly from now on.

He was almost back to their camp when he heard Gabrielle shout over the rush of the little waterfall, "Hercules -- NO!" Iolaus broke into a run, his heart suddenly racing.

As he dodged the last of the trees and ran into camp, Iolaus saw several things very quickly. Gabrielle was on the opposite shore, shouting. Hercules was hip-deep in the pool. He was moving with more ease, with the help of the Gabrielle's staff and the water's support, toward a strangely beautiful, singing woman.

"Iolaus -- get Hercules out of the water as quickly as you can!" Gabrielle cried. "She's the Naiad of this pool! She's ensorcelled him with her magic -- she'll take him under if you don't get him away!"

Iolaus was running toward the pool before Gabrielle had finished speaking, throwing down his bow, quiver, and game bag as he ran. He splashed into the water, gasping in shock at its coldness. He reached his friend's side, grabbed his arm, and shouted, "Hercules -- STOP!"

Hercules sightlessly pushed Iolaus aside, his Olympian heritage and the strength of the Naiad's magic combining to negate the weakness from his injuries. His eyes never left Kalyke as he stepped forward. Iolaus, shouting, begging his friend to stop, pushed through the water again and grabbed him around the waist, with much the same result.

"Get in front of him -- block his view of her!" Gabrielle screamed.

Iolaus splashed toward Hercules again. "How the hell am I supposed to do that?" he shouted back frantically. "He's been able to see over my head since we were fourteen!" But even as he spoke, Iolaus leaped on Hercules' back. With his weight and momentum, he pulled the demi-god down into the water and around facing the bank.

As water splashed into his face, Hercules shook his head, coughing, blinking, as though waking from a deep sleep. "Iolaus?" he choked, groggily. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Just saving your life, pal," Iolaus shot back, flinging back his wet hair, and pulling the big man's arm. "Come on -- we gotta get outta here!"

Suddenly, the water nymph's song grew wilder, deeper, stronger. Even Gabrielle, though the magic was not directed toward her, felt a bit of its compelling pull. She watched in horror as both Hercules *and* Iolaus turned toward the Naiad,their expressions melting into enraptured longing.

"Oh, no, you don't, you soggy hussy!" she shouted, splashing into the stream. She was careful to stay above the falls, in the shallow ford. The small bard grabbed up an armful of rocks and leaped onto a stone that protruded well above the swift water.

Gabrielle dropped her store of stones at her feet, took up one of them, and threw it as hard as she could at the Naiad.

The creature's song broke off with a pained screech as the rock hit her. Water splattered out of her body from the point of impact, which sealed in the next instant. In the instant that the song stopped, Iolaus and Hercules were freed from its spell. The golden hunter caught his tall friend as Hercules nearly fell, helping him get the staff back in place for support.

Gabrielle, throwing her missiles at the angry, screaming water nymph, shouted, "Get him out of the pool! Get up here to the ford and get him across!"

Iolaus was quick to obey, pulling a dazed Hercules to the bank, then up the rise to the ford. He supported his friend on one side; Hercules, leaning heavily on the staff and the hunter, hopped across as quickly as he could. Their progress was stumbling and uncertain in the rocky footing. Gabrielle continued throwing stones at the furious Naiad. The water-nymph kept trying to move toward her, shrieking, but each stone knocked her back a step. Water continued to spatter from her body as the stones impacted.

Iolaus helped Hercules well up onto the far bank, then turned back toward Gabrielle. "Can you keep it up?" he shouted. "I've got to get our supplies -- the stretcher!"

Gabrielle, lobbing a heavy stone, cried, "No, Iolaus! Stay there and take over for me! She can cast her glamour over you if you're in the water. I'll get the stuff!"

Iolaus' only answer was to catch up a stone and sling it hard at the Naiad, who shrieked in pain and fury at the increased force. Gabrielle dashed for the opposite bank. She grabbed the travois from the side of the pool, caught up Hercules' fish, and dumped them into it. She dragged the sled back toward their camp and hurriedly tossed in the bundles, supplies and Iolaus' bow and quiver. Iolaus continued flinging stones as quickly as he could catch them up.

Suddenly, Iolaus saw the Naiad point both hands upstream, the fingers splayed out. Even as one of his missiles hit her, she began calling out in a strange language. At that moment, Iolaus felt the stream's wavelets hit the toes of his boots.

"Iolaus!" Hercules called urgently from behind him. "Get Gabrielle! She's calling the water to rise!"

Iolaus looked down and saw the stream now nearly covering his foot. He splashed out into the strengthening current, shouting, "Gabrielle -- come on -- NOW!"

Gabrielle was just tossing his bag of pheasants onto the pile. She pulled the sled to the bank where Iolaus met her. As she stepped in to the stream, he let her move past him, and caught up the poles in the rear so that they supported the litter between them.

But by now, the water was up to their knees, rushing faster and getting higher by the second. "Hurry, Gabrielle! Faster!"

Gabrielle tried to obey, but fell to one knee as her foot slipped on a now-unseen rock in the stream bed. She was up a second, however. "Just keep your eyes on Hercules, Gabrielle!" Iolaus encouraged.

Hercules, more recovered now, watched in frustration from the bank, as his two friends struggled through the now-roaring water. The force was pushing them both toward the waterfall, and they had not reached midstream yet. The level was just above their thighs now; soon it could knock them off their feet and send them over the falls straight toward the Naiad. Unable to stand by any longer, Hercules pushed himself painfully to his feet.

"Kalyke --leave them alone!" he shouted. "It's me you want! STOP the stream!"

She smiled at him with a wild, fey fury . She broke off speaking her spell to call out, "I shall kill them and still have you, my beautiful!"

Iolaus saw Hercules' look toward him and, in the empathy of their long friendship, knew what Hercules was trying to do. For the moment, the water's climb seemed to have leveled off.

Keep her talking Herc! he thought. He pitched his voice so only Gabrielle could hear it. "Gabrielle -- faster while she's occupied!"

"Please, Kalyke!" Hercules cried. "Let them go!"

She paused, and actually seemed to be considering it. Gabrielle pushed through the turbulent water as fast as she could, Iolaus matching her step for step.

Then, instinctively, Hercules quickly glanced down to check on their position. Kalyke caught the quick dart of his eyes and screamed. Her fingers flared out and she cried a furious command in that unknown tongue. The water rose violently, but by this time, Gabrielle was almost to the bank. Hercules, on one foot and holding to a sapling, pulled her out. Iolaus scrambled out, pushing the stretcher higher.

"Keep going -- it's not safe yet!" Hercules roared, as a thunderous rumble came from upstream.

"Iolaus -- drop your end and help Hercules!" Gabrielle shouted. "I'll take the sled!"

Iolaus did as she said. They stumbled up and away from the rising water as fast as the bank's steepness and the sunset shadows allowed, to where some boulders partially deflected the raging flow. Kalyke shrieked her growing spell behind them. Gabrielle knelt to hastily strap the sled's contents in more securely.

"Gabrielle -- can you get it to the top of the hill?" Iolaus yelled over the booming torrent.

"I'll try!" She finished her task and moved off doggedly.

"Come on, Herc!" Iolaus caught his friend's arm, but Hercules pushed away his hand.

"I've got to stop her, Iolaus! Who knows what this flood might do to people downstream?"

"HOW can you stop her?"

"Get behind me and catch me around my waist -- help me keep my balance." Iolaus obeyed, but warned, "Be careful, Herc!"

"Always!" Hercules bent and, with Iolaus steadying him, heaved up one of the huge boulders beside them, and with a bellow of effort hurled it toward the raging Naiad.

She screamed in agony as the boulder struck. Her body ruptured in an explosion of water that fountained out around the boulder as it hit the stream. The watchers saw a current of sparkling green-gold flow away downstream, and heard a voice call, fainter and fainter, "I shall have you yet!"

The deepening rumble from upstream immediately began to fade. The water rushing past them continued to climb for just a moment, but then stopped and slowly began to fall. The racing lash of the waves quieted, and within minutes, the river was back to its original level.

Hercules and Iolaus could only hold each other for support and pant for a moment or two. The hunter glanced up and saw Gabrielle waving, safe at the top of the hill. She dropped the sled and began making her way back down to them. Iolaus eased Hercules to a sitting position, and collapsed beside him.

"What do you suppose she meant -- 'I shall have you yet' ?" Iolaus gasped. "You beat her, didn't you?"

Hercules shook his head. Catching a steadying breath, he panted, "I just turned her spell of chaos back on her, and caused her form to be dispersed. She'll be powerless till then. But she's immortal. She'll reform eventually."

"How long will that take?"

Hercules shrugged. "Don't know."

Iolaus saw a shiver course through Hercules' body, felt an answering one in his own. They were both wet through. The demigod's skin and his lips were pale, nearly blue, and the dark circles now so deep beneath his eyes that he looked gaunt.

"Damn, where's your brain, Iolaus?" He put his arms around his friend. "Herc -- we've got to get you warm and dry!"

"S-sounds like a plan," Hercules replied, trying to smile reassuringly even as his teeth chattered.

Gabrielle arrived at that moment, and with her help Iolaus got Herc up. As they struggled to the top of the hill, Iolaus glanced back at the murmuring stream below, remembering his optimistic thoughts of so short a time before.

I should've knocked on wood, he thought, as they bore Hercules' stumbling frame to the safety away from the stream.

If safety indeed it was ...

"Well, I guess we know now why the Cercopes called it 'bad water'," Gabrielle said, wearily, as she sorted through the jumbled bundles that she had just removed from the travois.

"Yeah," Iolaus replied, grimly, as he helped her. "And they were optimists."

He glanced over to where Hercules lay, wrapped in blankets near the fire, and wondered what to do. When they had collapsed in this small copse at the top of the hill, Iolaus had been most concerned about redressing Hercules' wound and getting him dry. The sunset was obscured behind a thickening cloud bank and the early spring breeze had turned raw and chill. It didn't take Iolaus' woodsman's senses to smell the rain coming.

Iolaus and Gabrielle had both known they only had time to regroup and take care of immediate necessities before seeking better shelter. The two of them were wet, chilled, and fatigued to the center of their bones. But Hercules was obviously in the greatest danger, especially if the rain came. As Gabrielle had wrapped the shivering demi-god in blankets and built a fire, Iolaus had removed the drenched dressing and cracked splints from his leg, finding the wound bleeding steadily beneath. Even more terrifying was the inflamed edges of the wound, and the swelling and redness around it. Iolaus had cursed softly.

His eyes had met Hercules' and there could be no pretense between them. "Do your best, Iolaus," Hercules had said, quietly, with a small smile of confidence. The effort of fighting the pain was evident in his face, however. "That's good enough for me."

Iolaus had glanced away quickly. Catching a quick breath and closing his eyes for a moment, Iolaus had fallen to work with a grim determination to do all he could to help his dearest friend.

He had stopped the bleeding, re-packed the wound with linen boiled in comfrey and echinacea leaves, and dressed it with a clean, dry cloth. He had tossed away the old splints and cut new ones. Gabrielle had made a strong tea to warm and strengthen them all. As soon as they had settled Hercules and gulped their tea, Iolaus and Gabrielle had hurried to organize their disordered supplies so they could move on, while Hercules dozed. This was the task that occupied them now.

As they worked in the failing light, Iolaus was glancing around measuringly at the higher hills that surrounded them. "We're almost to the top of this pass," he informed Gabrielle, with a sigh. "The other side of this range is not so rough. We've got another ten or eleven leagues to go to reach Dendra."

As the crow flies, Gabrielle thought worriedly, but did not say it aloud.

"So we might be able to make the rest of the journey in two days, maybe three, if the land is right and we can really push on," Iolaus was continuing, his tone desperately hopeful.

"Yes, but we've got to find cover for the night soon, Iolaus," Gabrielle replied, quietly. "The sun must be down by now and those clouds are moving up fast. We're not going to have much time before it's really dark."

Iolaus nodded. "When Herc and I were in Dendra before, there were legends of caves in these hills. A whole system of caves, sounded like. If we could find them, it would be perfect."

Gabrielle nodded, not commenting on the insecurity of these "ifs". The two of them pushed their tired bodies to work faster, and soon were lashing their bundles onto the empty travois. They were so intent on their work that neither of them noticed anything else. Then Hercules called out. "Hey, you two, we've got company."

Iolaus leaped up, whipping his knife out, whirling closer to Hercules. But he relaxed when he caught sight of their "company". A number of the Cercope warriors had silently materialized out of the shadows of the stones around them. Aru Orcas came forward and observed them, as Iolaus slipped his knife back into its sheath. The blond hunter glanced over to check Hercules. His big friend was sitting up, still well wrapped in blankets, watching the small warriors with a slight smile on his gaunt face.

"Big ones not hear warning ?" Aru Orcas asked, sadly.

Iolaus sighed, glancing at his friends. "It's no so much that we didn't *hear* the warning, Aru Orcas," he replied, respectfully. "It's that we didn't quite understand what the danger would be."

Gabrielle spoke suddenly, in a dawning realization. "Oh, no, I just thought ... Aru Orcas, one word you used was *n'mfala*. Is that your word for nymph, like the Naiad who tried to hurt us?"

Aru Orcas nodded vigorously. "N'mfala. Makes water bad."

The three travelers glanced at each other, relieved and stunned at the narrowness of their escape. Hercules looked back at the small chief. "Thank you for your warning, Aru Orcas," he said sincerely. "We'll try to understand better next time." Aru Orcas nodded, satisfied. He waved toward a faint path leading up the mountain. "Now, Big Ones must come."

"Huh?" Iolaus asked, still bemused by anyone calling him a "big one". "Chief, we'd like to go with you, but we've got to get Hercules to the town over these last hills." He pointed toward the ancient trail that they had been following through the Haunted Hills. "There are healers there that we need."

The Cercope chief shook his head. "Rain come soon!"

"Yeah, we know we've got to find shelter for now, especially for Hercules." The chief nodded. "Must come with Cercopes. Stay dry -- have fire, food."

Iolaus looked at Gabrielle and Hercules. The bard nodded, her weary features brightening. Hercules smiled, though Iolaus could see his teeth were chattering. "Sounds pretty good, Iolaus. I think they've earned our trust."

Iolaus looked back at Aru Orcas. "It does sound good, Chief, but ... is it far? We need to get back on the trail tomorrow without much delay."

The chief studied Iolaus' worried face with a small, cryptic smile. "Not far, makes close."

Iolaus shrugged, glancing at his friends. "Well, I don't understand all of what you mean, but what I do understand sounds pretty good." He caught up the travois poles. "All right, let's go! We'll get Herc back in his chariot, and then we're with you, Chief."

Later, Iolaus tried not to remember that last bit of the day's journey. Parts of it he really couldn't remember, because he, like his friends, was exhausted from the physical, mental and emotional rigors they'd endured. At times, he was only conscious of putting one foot in front of the other. At other moments, he kept glancing along the trail, wondering how much farther their destination would be, and how long it would take them to retrace their steps if need be. At least, his burden was much lighter.

Six of the Cercope warriors had stepped up to help him carry Hercules. Iolaus was uncertain at first if they could really be helpful, but Aru Orcas reassured him. "Cercopes are People of the Earth. Strength comes from Mother Gaia Herself. They help."

And indeed the six little men proved much stronger than he thought. They hoisted Hercules' stretcher onto their shoulders with ease, while Iolaus still held the poles in the forward postion. The group moved out flawlessly. And as their journey had continued, it was the rock-like stamina of his helpers that kept Iolaus going.

But just when it seemed they would walk forever, Aru Orcas suddenly turned off the faint path and angled toward a looming escarpment that had been rising steadily on their left. He moved confidently in the growing dimness. The last of the twilight was being engulfed by cloud, and the rain though still light was much steadier.

Iolaus had been wondering for a moment if he should call for a stop to check Hercules' blankets and to find out if Aru Orcas was going to walk them straight into the wall of rock. All at once the Chief seemed to vanish into a shadow of one of the out-thrust ribs of the towering cliff. Iolaus stopped, totally baffled.

His fellow bearers pushed gently at him from behind, with calls of what seemed like encouragement. Abruptly, Aru Orcas reappeared and motioned him forward. As Iolaus came closer, he saw that the pygmy chief stood at a narrow cleft in the mountain's side, half obscured by an out-thrust rib of rock.

Aru Orcas and the Cercopes had brought them to the shelter Iolaus had most wished to find.

The stretcher just fit through the narrow entrance. They entered the blessed dry and warm darkness, but as Iolaus' eyes adjusted he realized there was a dim shaft of light up ahead. They moved through what he now could see more easily was a narrow corridor. A few more paces and they rounded a stone-pillared corner into a burst of warm firelight, and myriad welcome sounds and scents.

They were in the opening of an immense chamber, twice as large as the throne room in Hercules' brother Iphicles' throne room in Corinth castle. Roughly oval in shape, the ceiling was hidden in darkness above. The remainder of the Cercope tribe was cozily ensconced in the great, dry smooth-floored space, all fifty or sixty adults and numerous, busy children easily accommodated with plenty of room for separate family groupings and a central common area. The musical chittering of their voices echoed in its vastness. The women were busy near cooking fires at present, no doubt responsible for the mouth-watering fragrances which Iolaus had noticed immediately.

The chief indicated a good place for Iolaus and his fellow bearers to place the stretcher, beside a steady fire in a stone hearth close to the common space. As he set down the travois poles on a large stone, Iolaus noted with mixed feelings that Hercules was at least sleeping. His face was pale, with two feverish spots of color in his cheeks, but he looked all right for the time being.

Rising to stretch his sore back, Iolaus turned to see Gabrielle close behind, gazing in awe at the impressive shelter in the womb of Mother Gaia. The other Cercope warriors fanned out to join their own family groups throughout the cave. Aru Orcas stayed by the three travelers and spread his arms out. Across the cave most of the Cercopes broke off their individual conversations and turned to greet the newcomers.

The chief made a brief speech in which Iolaus heard what sounded like their names. His last words were an obvious invitation, and all the Cercope tribe called out a ringing phrase in their own tongue.

Aru Orcas turned back to the visitors. "Cercopes say welcome. Be safe here".

Iolaus the babbler and Gabrielle the bard were almost speechless.

"Kewl," a bone-weary Iolaus said, grinning.

"You said it," Gabrielle sighed and smiled.

"His leg is worse, isn't it?" Gabrielle asked, nearly fifteen hours later.

Her voice broke into Iolaus' deep musing as he prepared more medicines near a cooking fire. Iolaus glanced up at her, then over to where Hercules, wrapped in blankets with his leg elevated on several bundles, was sitting propped in the midst of a half-dozen Cercope children. Noting that his distance and preoccupation with talking to the shy children would keep Hercules from hearing them, Iolaus nodded.

"It's a *lot* worse, Gabrielle," he said, wretchedly. He looked back down at his work, unable to meet her sympathetic eyes longer. "A really strong ordinary man would be close to death now, from fever, gangrene, or some other evil humor rotting the wound. His Olympian power is helping, but after that soaking yesterday, the effort and strain of being up on the leg as long as he was, and the rain last night, even *that* strength is being pushed to the limit."

Iolaus sighed, as he removed a small pot where it hung over the fire, stirred it, and put it to one side. "His whole thigh is swollen now. Pus and blood are leaking from the wound. His bouts of chills and fever are getting longer, and -- and much worse. He's weaker now than I have ever seen him. If we hadn't made it to this place last night, I just don't know ..."

Iolaus broke off as his voice cracked, and he began vigorously shredding calendula flowers into the steaming pot. Gabrielle's heart wrenched for him. She sat down on a stone close by and gazed around, giving Iolaus time to recover his composure.

"The Cercopes have been great, haven't they?" she observed, after a moment.

"Yeah, that's for sure." Iolaus replied, sincerely, but abstactedly.

Gabrielle thought back on the events of the last fifteen hours. They Cercopes had taken them to a small chamber off the main cave where warm springs bubbled up into a pool, providing a snug place to bathe and dry their wet clothes. Their healers had assisted Iolaus to get Hercules' dressings changed. For such a primitive people, their healers seemed to be quite skilled in herbal cures and open to new ways. They convinced both Iolaus and Hercules to allow them to foment Hercules' wound with a solution made of a particular mold from deep in the caverns, which, through the Chief's translation, they indicated was very helpful for wounds. Hercules reminded Iolaus that Cheiron had spoken favorably of such molds and overcame Iolaus' initial objections.

"I would never have believed their food would be so good," Gabrielle continued. Iolaus nodded. "Me neither."

The Cercope women had provided an amazingly delicious dinner, banishing any thoughts that such primitive people would eat poorly. The meal had consisted of tender roast wild auroch, which had obviously been marinated in herbs and spices before cooking. There were also wild tubers, stuffed with grains and herbs, salted and roasted till tender. Crusty flat bread made of the same wild grains accompanied the meal, and honeyed fruits provided a sweet taste at the end of it. Then the three weary travelers had rolled themselves in their blankets and slept, totally sated with warmth and food.

Hercules had awakened feverishly only once. Iolaus was immediately awake, gave him water and more of the prepared medicines. Iolaus watched him fall back asleep, and soon was asleep himself. Gabrielle smiled as she remembered their surprise when they awoke to find midmorning light filtered from the cave's entrance, and realized they had slept nearly ten hours. Though the rest had helped Hercules some, his leg was definitely worse, and his fever was climbing, whether from disease humors in the leg, or a severe chill, no one knew.

Gabrielle watched the turmoil of thoughts play over Iolaus' face for a moment longer, then spoke, gently. "You don't know what to do about the Chief's offer, do you?"

Iolaus looked up at her, his handsome face a study in wretched indecision, the fear of wrong and desperate choices in his eyes. "No," he said, his voice cracking again. "I don't."

This offer had come just after Iolaus had checked Hercules' dressing the first thing that morning. Aru Orcas had come to them and made a proposition.

"No go back to old trail. Too long. Cercopes take Big Ones fast way. There in just one sundown."

"I don't know, Chief. I think we'd better stick to the way we know."

"Cercopes know under Earth. Quick way." Aru Orcas pointed towards a dark opening in the back of the great chamber.

"You mean, there's a way through the caves?"

The Chief nodded. Iolaus shook his head. "I don't know about that, Aru Orcas. It sounds a bit ... uncertain."

The chief nodded again, as he replied. "Take time. Think." And with that he strode away.

Hercules looked at Iolaus, his eyebrows lifting. Iolaus had turned away, saying nothing, and strode off to the cooking fire, trying to sort his thoughts as he worked.

And now he was still uncertain, knowing Hercules' life rested on this decision.

"The Cercopes have proved much wiser than we could have ever guessed, just to look at them," Gabrielle said, softly. "They were right about the danger at the ford. They were right to bring us here out of the cold, rainy night. Surely they're right about this route, too."

Iolaus sighed. "My head agrees with all you say, Gabrielle. But ... in my gut I can only feel fear. What if they're wrong ... this time? What if I make the wrong choice, and we get there too late? His time is running out." Iolaus broke off, abruptly.

He caught a quick breath. "At least on the trail, I know pretty much what to expect. If we go with the Cercopes, we're totally dependent on them, and that's a damned big gamble to make with Herc's life."

"Whatever you choose, it can't be wrong, Iolaus." Gabrielle reached out and stroked his face gently. "A decision made from such a great love could never really be wrong."

Iolaus smiled gratefully at the young warrior-bard, unable to meet her eyes for long. He caught her hand to his lips, and kissed it. "Thank you," he whispered.

When all was readied, Gabrielle helped Iolaus bring the supplies to Hercules. The Cercope healers had been busy with another fomentation of the wound. As they left, Hercules met Iolaus' eyes, searchingly. Iolaus again noted that his friend's eyes seemed more startlingly blue in their dark hollows, and deep shadows lay beneath his prominent cheekbones.

The demi-god swallowed the teas obediently, watching his friend's face. He was silent as Iolaus, with Gabrielle's assistance, removed the old dressing, and the packing soaked with blood and pus. He bit his lips as they unavoidably manipulated his leg to pack it with herbs and redress it. But when they were finished, and Iolaus began replacing his blankets, Hercules reached out and caught his friend's arm.

"Iolaus. You know we've got to talk about this ."

Iolaus glanced at Hercules, his heart in his gaze. Gabrielle said quietly, "I'll get everything put away." And gathering up the detritus of their efforts quickly, she rose and slipped away.

Hercules smiled at his friend, hearteningly. "You didn't say anything about the Chief's offer, buddy."

"I don't know *what* to say, Herc," Iolaus replied, his agony of indecision in his voice.

"Guess you've thought about how the Cercopes have been really helpful to us in two very dangerous situations."

Iolaus nodded, his eyes averted.

"And it makes sense that a cave system through the mountains might be shorter than the way up and over the mountains."

Iolaus nodded again. "Yeah, it sounds good, but we just don't know, Herc. I *know* the other way -- I know what to expect. This other I don't know anything about, and that makes me feel less in control of the situation."

"I know just how you feel," Hercules replied, remembering his anger when Hades had forced him to work with the Water Enforcer to save Iolaus from the UnderWorld not so long ago. "Okay. Let's think of it this way. Honestly -- really seriously honest, Iolaus -- what would be your best estimate as to how long it'll take to get to Dendra above ground?"

Iolaus glanced at his friend, and replied, "Two days at the very least. But ... well, I guess three might more likely."

"But , you know, Iolaus, even two days might be dangerous. I'm worried about what might happen to any of you if I run a really high fever, and become delirious. I might hurt you, or Gabrielle, or one of the Cercopes. If the cave route takes that long, we haven't lost anything, and it may even be shorter. I can't bear the idea of hurting any of you."

"Would you stop worrying about everyone else, for gods' sake?" Iolaus burst out.

"Okay. Then -- from my perspective, Iolaus -- I just don't know if I can make three more days of this."

Iolaus swallowed hard. He bowed his head, feeling it pound with the weight of the choices. He felt Hercules' other hand on his hair, and sensed his best friend's silent offering of comfort and understanding.

"Damn it, Herc," Hercules could just hear the words. "Either way we're gambling with your life."

Hercules' hand dropped down to his friend's shoulder, and held tightly. "I think it's a good gamble, Iolaus. These people know so much. They've proved themselves our friends." He regarded Iolaus' bowed head fondly. "But look, you're the one I trust my life to -- you decide."

"Oh, gods, Herc," Iolaus burst out, pulling away from the demi-god. "Don't say it like that! I can't --"

Hercules broke in gently. "You can, too. Just like you've done at every point to keep me alive, to get me this far. *You've* done it, Iolaus, with Gabrielle's help. Whatever happens, you've been my lifeline."

Iolaus put one hand over his eyes, frozen in silence for a moment. Then, abruptly, he scrubbed that hand across his eyes and nose, and glanced up at Hercules' compassionate blue gaze with a fierce and desperate determination.

"Herc ... one way or another, I'm going to get you there."

"Never doubted it, buddy."

Iolaus took a breath that seemed to come from the depths of his heart. "Okay ... I'm telling the Chief -- we'll take the low road with him."

"Holy Hermes' sandals, this place is amazing!"

Gabrielle's voice echoed through the vaulted chamber that they were currently traversing. Her comment had resulted from the burst of scintillating reflections that struck their eyes as they entered this wide corridor. Its walls appeared to be frozen flows of white quartzite crystals. It was yet another wonder of many they had thus far encountered in their underground journey.

They had been walking for over half a day now, with a break for lunch. They had developed a growing astonishment at the size and complexity of the cave system. Each section seemed to display new wonders wrought in stone and minerals. The small group of Cercopes and humans had passed through forests of stalagmites writhing up toward their companion stalactites. They had traversed huge chambers with walls and ceilings invisible to their torchlight, and smaller rooms where glittering ores decorated the walls, or fairy-like structures of ice white limestone stood like natural sculptures. In some places phosphorescent fungi illuminated their path with an eerie greenish glow; in others, blind, white fish swam in clear pools. They were rarely away from the sound or sight of water.

There were also signs that some of the tunnels were artificial. They bore the signs of stone picks and shovels where generations must have worked the bounties of the caves. The Cercope warriors pointed at these marks with the long wooden staffs they carried, mimicking the work of pick and shovel. With Aru Orcas' help Iolaus could understand that the small men were showing them areas where they had worked. What neither he nor Gabrielle could understand was why they now all carried the long wooden staffs instead of their bows and spears; the Cercope explanation was simply too garbled. But they didn't have long to ponder this question, since another subject came up before long.

Aru Orcas pointed out one of the worked areas to Iolaus and Gabrielle as the party took a brief rest. In a sparkling crystalline cavern, he handed a small bit of the crystal to Gabrielle. "Taste," he said.

Gabrielle gingerly put her tongue lightly to the flaky crystal. Her eyes widened as she evaluated the taste. "Salt!" She and Iolaus looked around at the walls sparkling in the torchlight. "You mean all of this is rock salt?"

Aru Orcas nodded. "Mountain's center is salt. We use, trade."

Iolaus would not rest for long. Although Hercules slept, it was a restless, muttering sleep, and it was becoming difficult to awaken him to take nourishment. Iolaus could only get him to drink water now.

The hunter tried to find out from the Cercopes how much farther they had to go, but the exact distance was impossible to communicate. They could only understand "Not far."

But they soon learned that it was not far, after all. Less than three hours after the rest in the salt cave, the party had trudged around a curve in one tunnel to come out into another huge chamber. It was nearly filled with a long, narrow pool, fifty or sixty feet across and perhaps twice that in length. The water was so clear that the first couple of feet could be seen in the torchlight, but so deep that the light could not illumine much farther. A trail worn by many feet sloped down gently to the still surface on the near side. Just barely visible on the far side, began again on a crystalline beach, then climbed suddenly, zig-zagging up a steep slope toward a cleft in the rock, through which a faint light seemed to be visible.

The reason for the trail was soon evident. The two ends of the pond stretched to the cave walls on either side; there was no way around it. Stretched across the narrow lake was a rope and pulley system with large, detachable baskets of woven reeds. Six of these baskets were drawn up on the near shore. The Cercopes demonstrated the system's use immediately. One of the warriors climbed into a basket attached to the bottom section of rope, and by tugging on the top portion, pulled himself easily across the water's surface and back.

Aru Orcas waved at the device. "For salt, too." He pointed to the upward trail on the other side of the little lake. "Near trade place."

Iolaus, who had knelt to check the sleeping Hercules, rose quickly, and stepped closer to the Chief. "You mean, that way leads out to where you trade?" he asked, pointing toward the cleft that was so dimly illumined. At Aru Orcas' nod, the hunter continued, with rising excitement, "Then we're close to the outside, to Dendra?"

When Aru Orcas agreed, Iolaus startled Gabrielle, all the Cercopes, and woke Hercules with his yell . He further surprised Gabrielle by picking her up and swinging her around in a dizzy circle.

"Whoa, Iolaus -- stop!" Gabrielle laughed, grasping his shoulders tighter as his feet skittered on the grainy rock. "Put me down before we both end up in the lake!"

"Yeah, okay -- sure!" Iolaus babbled, his brilliant smile lighting his handsome face. As he put her down he said, a bit more calmly, "Sorry -- I'm just so glad we're almost there!"

Gabrielle reached up and laid two fingers across his lips. "Ssh! I understand completely!" she said, smiling.

At that moment, a deep, weary voice asked, "What's goin' on?"

Iolaus whirled. Hercules was awake, still rolled in blankets and secure in the travois where Iolaus had propped it on an upthrust boulder. The hunter's grin widened as he saw that the son of Zeus appeared a bit clearer than he had been in the last few hours.

In a few quick strides, Iolaus came to kneel at Hercules' side. He laid a hand on Hercules' blanket-covered shoulder and said, "Just a bit of a celebration, Herc. Sorry I woke you, but we're almost there!"

Hercules licked his dry, cracked lips, trying to smile, as he studied Iolaus' face through fever-glazed azure eyes. "Thanks to you, buddy."

"Hey, no problem," Iolaus replied, smiling back, as he untied one of the waterskins and fished a cup out of a pack. "Gabrielle and the Cercopes had a lot to do with it, too."

Hercules gazed past Iolaus, first at Gabrielle, then at the Cercopes. "Thank you all," he said, quietly.

"We've still got one obstacle, Herc," Iolaus stated, glancing up at the pool. "But I think we'll have a rest and something to eat, while we figure out a way to get you across it safely. Could you eat something?"

Hercules shifted his gaze from the pool ahead back to Iolaus' concerned gaze. "Don't know," Hercules answered tiredly, but as he saw his friend's smile dim, he went on, "But I'll try, Iolaus." He was rewarded by the grin brightening again.

After they had all helped to get Hercules out of the travois, Gabrielle built a fire and warmed some broth made by the Cercope women from the partridges Iolaus had caught. While she coaxed Hercules to eat a little of it, with sops of the crusty bread, Iolaus was busy with the Cercopes, working to adapt the well-worn travois to give Hercules as dry a ride as possible over the pool.

Now Iolaus saw the use for which the Cercopes had brought the long staffs. Together they removed the stretched skins that had been lashed to the travois poles to provide the "bed" in which Hercules had been carried. The new wooden poles were tied securely at a perpendicular angle between the older crosspieces that had just been at the head and foot of the stretched skins. The added crosspieces made a more solid framework; the skins were again stretched over it, even tighter this time, to create a less "giving" stretcher.

Next, several of the Cercope waterskins, made of large animal bladders, were emptied of water and blown up like balloons. These were then lashed tightly to the ends and center of the new stretcher, and then four of the waterproof baskets were tied to fit over the bladders. They placed the newly-created raft in the water, and it floated well enough, even with rocks enough to simulate Hercules' weight.

They were ready, except that Gabrielle insisted that Iolaus and the Cercopes also eat. "It's nearly supper time," she stated firmly, "and once we get close to Dendra, I know you're not going to want to stop. You need it, too!"

As Gabrielle was serving and chatting a bit laboriously with Aru Orcas and his men, Iolaus brought his bowl over to sit beside Hercules. The demi-god, wrapped well in blankets against the underground chill, was leaning against a rock outcrop, and staring fixedly into space. Iolaus' smile dimmed a bit when he realized Hercules was shivering despite the blankets and the fire's warmth. His fever had to be climbing again.

Hercules' abstraction vanished as Iolaus sat down beside him, determinedly cheerful. "Well , Herc, it won't be long now!" He took a bite of cold partridge, chewed quickly, and grinned. "We'll be in Dendra in one day, just like Aru Orcas said."

Hercules nodded, with a faint smile. But he gazed at his friend's face with a such a searching, intense stare that it made Iolaus anxious. It was as though his beloved friend was memorizing his features, storing them in memory for some separation to come. Iolaus turned his attention to his food, eating quickly.

"And then we'll get you to the Temple of Asclepius in no time," Iolaus forged on, after swallowing a huge mouthful. His smile was pinned to his lips, but an icy hand of fear clutched his heart. "Between the Healers and Asclepius himself, you'll be well before we know it. After all, Asclepius *is* your own cousin -- he's bound to intervene in the case of a family mem--"

"Iolaus." Hercules interrupted, gently. "You're babbling again. Stop."

"Babbling -- me?" Iolaus jumped right back in, speaking even more quickly. "Hey, Herc, I'm not babbling, I'm just excited. We're almost there and everything is going to be okay."

"Sure, Iolaus, I know," Hercules replied, wearily grabbing the conversational reins again. "You're probably right. And if we do make it, it will be because of your great heart, buddy, but I --"

"Hey, Herc, there's no 'if' about it! We're going to -- "

"Damn it! Will you shut up and listen to me?" Hercules demanded. He reached out of the blankets with his right hand, caught his friend's shoulder and shook it, but his touch was gentle.

Iolaus looked at Hercules dumbly, fear and dread evident in his large sapphire eyes. Without thinking, without changing his gaze, he let his now-empty plate slip to the ground.

"Even after we get to the healers, Iolaus, it's still a damned big 'if"," Hercules said, his voice strained. "I don't know how much longer I can fight this thing. Even with all my strength, the fever is getting worse, and my leg has gone from being horribly painful to nearly numb."

Iolaus, frozen in position, could only close his eyes. Hercules saw the wetness that darkened his friend's long, thick eyelashes. His right hand tightened on Iolaus' shoulder, and pulled the hunter closer.

"I'm not trying to hurt you, Iolaus," Hercules said, very quiet. "And I'm not giving up. It's just that --"

Hercules' hand slipped down from Iolaus' shoulder and caught his friend's arm in the warrior's clasp. "It's just that ... this may be the last moment we get to talk. Got a few things I need to tell you ... just in case ..."

Iolaus' head suddenly bowed, and he turned his hand to clutch Hercules' arm tightly. Hercules heard his breath catch in a strangled sob. "Damn, Herc! Don't say that! You've got to make it!"

Hercules reached out with his free hand to cup the back of Iolaus' head, pushing gently against the bright hair and leaning forward himself so that their foreheads touched. They rested there silently for a moment; Hercules felt his friend trembling from anguish as much as he himself was shivering with fever.

"I want to, Iolaus," he whispered, "For both our sakes. But I just don't know if I can."

"Herc, you promised," Iolaus replied, hoarsely. "Back to back heroes ... remember?" Hercules nodded, tears filling his own eyes. "I know, Iolaus. I'm trying, but I don't have any control over it -- any more than you did."

Iolaus was silent, remembering the three ... no, two --- *Why does it seem like three?* he wondered fleetingly -- times he had unwillingly left Hercules behind.

After a silent moment, Hercules went on, his deep voice quiet. "Before we go on, I've got to tell you ... how lucky I feel to have you as my best friend. You ... you know I love you like a brother.." He felt Iolaus' hand tighten painfully on his arm in mute affirmation. "Since we were kids, you've been my anchor. You helped me learn who I was, when I was lost between two worlds. You helped me accept myself, because you accepted me -- as I was."

Hercules smiled briefly. "You helped me learn to not take myself so seriously. And you've been the one person who could really ... see me ... as *myself*, not some kind of legend. Can't tell you what that's meant to me. Especially ... when the damned legend pushed you into my shadow."

Iolaus shook his head, and lifted it, pulling back so that they again faced each other through the jewelled lenses of tears. Hercules' hand dropped wearily from his friend's head; Iolaus caught it in a grip of steel, holding his friend by both hands, as though to anchor Hercules' soul to his body by the deep force of his love.

"I've complained about it, yeah, but ... but I've always known there's no where else in all Gaia that I would want to be. After all, you gave me my life and my honor back, when I thought I was nothing." Iolaus caught his breath on a watery chuckle. "Besides -- you've got a pretty *big* shadow."

Hercules chuckled faintly, but his eyes were grave, and he shook his head. "Not many men with your gifts could do it, Iolaus." He drew a deep breath. "You know you've kept me sane when I thought ... I'd lost everything. But later I realized ... never really lost everything, as long as you were there."

Hercules let his head fall back against the layered blankets, too tired to hold it up longer, his eyes still on his friend's face. Iolaus met his gaze squarely.

"Just like you were there for me, Herc, when Ania and Theron died."

The son of Zeus could only nod, his fever-glazed eyes huge in his bone-white face. The lines of pain. sickness, and exhaustion were deeper and his eyelids drooped, but he held on to consciousness with fierce determination.

He summoned his remaining strength to whisper, "You're a man in a thousand, Iolaus ... the biggest man I know." Hercules' voice cracked. "Thanks for being ... my brother."

Iolaus tightened the grip of his hands, and held Hercules' blue eyes with his own. "It has always been ... my honor, Hercules." He suddenly released his friend's hands, and briskly pulled the blankets back around him. Dashing his gauntlet awkwardly across his eyes, Iolaus vowed fervently. "And, by all the gods of Olympus, I'm not gonna let you go!"

He turned to see the Cercopes, and Gabrielle, waiting a respectful distance away. "Everything ready?" he called out.

Gabrielle, her own blue eyes suspiciously bright, replied, "Ready!"

"Then let's go!" Iolaus turned back to Hercules. "You just hang on, Herc -- you understand?"

"Sure thing, buddy." Hercules smiled faintly.

But as they were getting Hercules onto the makeshift raft/stretcher, Hercules lost consciousness from the pain and his weakness. Gabrielle glanced at Iolaus' grim face, and said, "It's probably for the best, at least for now."

Iolaus nodded. He wrapped Hercules securely in the blankets, then went to help the Cercopes get the rest of their gear across. There were three other baskets, each was attached to the rope pulley and sent across carrying some of the supplies and at least one of the Cercope warriors. Gabrielle and Aru Orcas helped Iolaus maneuver Hercules' stretcher close to the pulley, then the bard and the chieftain were each ferried across in the strong, reed-bundle baskets.

Iolaus pushed the makeshift raft into the water, and was relieved when it floated without difficulty. Hercules remained asleep or unconscious, cocooned and dry, well above the water lapping at the raft's edges. Iolaus slipped into the water, gasping at its coldness. He lashed the raft's left side to the bottom section of rope. He then moved through the water to the right side. Already the water level was to his neck.

He held the right side of the raft and waved to Gabrielle and the Cercopes. "Start pulling!"

They did so, and the raft bearing Hercules, with Iolaus holding to one side and swimming along, began to slowly move across the water. Hercules' weight, along with the little that Iolaus contributed, required several of the small warriors to pull together, but they did so efficiently. The raft moved slowly, but well; Gabrielle watched it closely, but could see no sign that the jury-rigged raft was taking on water. She watched Iolaus anxiously, a bit worried about him having to swim in the frigid water. His face was pinched and pale, and he moved slowly, the cold water obviously adding to his fatigue, but she thought he seemed to be doing okay.

Iolaus was cold, and his teeth were beginning to chatter, but he knew it would not be much longer, and they would be out. He looked toward the shore, and saw Gabrielle's face, anxiety now giving way to relief. Glancing back, he could see that they were over halfway across, and still the raft floated well.

*We're going to make it* he thought, excitement bubbling into his mind. "We're almost across, buddy," he whispered to Hercules, reaching up to touch the blanketed form. "We're gonna get over there, and before you know it, we'll be in Dendra, and ---"

All at once there was an explosion of water, right beside Iolaus, fountaining upward like an immense geyser. Water drenched the raft and Hercules. Iolaus was knocked from his hold and pushed underwater by the power of the sudden onslaught.

Iolaus fought to regain the surface, and came up coughing and stunned. As he flung his wet hair out of his face, he saw a glittering gold and green form, magically floating waist deep in the clear, icy water.

"Kalyke!" he cried. Adrenaline poured into his veins as he grasped the raft and shouted to Gabrielle and the Cercopes, already pulling like demons, "FASTER!" He began swimming with all his might. He felt Hercules stirring beneath his sheltering hand.

"Iolaus?" the demi-god called, in confusion.

"Hang on, Herc -- don't move!" he shouted. "That crazy Naiad is back!"

Laughter like the music of rain sounded behind him. "You take what is mine, little man!" Iolaus heard her rippling voice call, and suddenly the pool rose around him, ripping his hand from his grip on Hercules, and plunging him under.

Again he fought for the surface, but it was like swimming in quicksand. He kicked upward frantically, air hunger driving him, but could not reach the top. The cold was beginning to sap his strength, and he despaired, reaching hopelessly for the surface.

Suddenly, Iolaus felt one hand caught in a grip of steel, and he was dragged upward in a rapid surge. He broke the surface finally with a whooping gasp. He realized Hercules had pushed his blankets aside and leaned over the side of the raft to grab him.

Iolaus clutched his friend thankfully, as he coughed and sputtered. Hercules held him with one arm, and with the other hand was helping pull the raft closer to the shore. The muscles of his neck and shoulders bunched, and his face wore a grimace of strain.

There was a scream from behind them. Iolaus turned to see Kalyke soaring through the water toward them, arms outstretched. "Look out, Herc!" he shouted. He twisted in his friend's grip, so that he faced the oncoming enemy. As she reached him, he brought both legs up and out of the water, and kicked her. She was knocked backward several feet, which bought them a second's grace, but again she came at them.

This time she approached from the rear of the raft, where Iolaus could not reach her. She caught Hercules' legs, trying to pull him from the raft. Hercules cried out in agony at the pain in his injured leg.

Iolaus screamed in wordless fury. He wrenched from Hercules' grasp, and launched himself at the Naiad with such force that it broke her grip on Hercules and knocked her back into the water. Iolaus leaped at her, heedless of Hercules' shouts for him, and Gabrielle's pleas to get to shore.

The sudden fierceness of his attack surprised the water nymph, and he pushed her under, the muscles standing out in his powerful arms. He then swam back toward the raft, but before he could reach it, Kalyke broke the surface next to it. She laughed with maniacal glee. "You cannot harm me with my water, poor mortal!" she cried. "The water of all this mountain is my place, and imbued with my power!"

She grabbed the edge of the raft, pulling downward fiercely, and a magical wave rose with her. Hercules was knocked into the water.

"NO!" Iolaus shouted, and swam furiously toward them. Hercules fought off the Naiad's attack, but she leaped back at him, and pushed him under.

By this time, Iolaus had reached them, however. He grabbed frantically for Hercules' arm as he went under and pulled his friend up while kicking out at Kalyke with all his might. He knocked her backward several feet, and he and Hercules were able to swim a little closer to the shore. But Iolaus was half-supporting a weakening Hercules, and they were still only three-quarters of the way across.

Suddenly, Iolaus realized Gabrielle was shouting at them, "Grab the rope! Quickly!"

He hauled Hercules over to the pulley, and they both caught the rope, wrapping their icy fingers around it as best they could, Iolaus still hanging on to Hercules with one hand. Then they were suddenly being towed rapidly through the water. Abruptly, Kalyke surfaced beside them and again grabbed Hercules. The demi-god, his grip weakened by the cold and his depleted condition, was again pulled under.

Iolaus plunged his hand downward and caught the Naiad by the hair, pulling upward savagely. He felt the seaweed-like strands suddenly melt in his fingers and flow away from him, but Hercules rose to the surface, gasping and half-conscious, released from her grip. Iolaus caught him, and pulled him close.

By this time, they were nearly to the opposite shore. Iolaus still held Hercules by one arm and the rope by the other hand. Hercules gasped abruptly.

"T-touched bottom, I-I-Iolaus," he choked out, teeth chattering furiously.

"Gabrielle!" Iolaus shouted, lifting and pushing Hercules forward. She and several of the Cercope warriors splashed into the water. Gabrielle plunged in further and caught Hercules' arm, helping him hobble closer to the edge where the Cercopes could assist them.

At that moment, Iolaus felt wave-strong arms grasp him around the neck and pull him back.

Hercules, fighting his weakness and pain, turned to see his friend entwined in Kalyke's grasp.

"IOLAUS!!" he roared, pulling against his supporters.

"Hercules -- NO!!" Gabrielle cried, trying to hold him back.

"Damn it -- she's got Iolaus! Let me go!"

"Stay back, Herc!" Iolaus shouted.

"It's you she's after," she shouted back. "Get to shore and let us fight her. The Cercopes know something!"

Hercules reluctantly allowed them to pull him to shore, but turned back to anxiously watch Iolaus fighting Kalyke. The blond hunter had managed to grasp the ropes, and now, he levered himself upward and again kicked out at her. Just as he ripped himself out of her grasp, the Cercopes still manning the pulley brought him closer. But Kalyke again leapt for him.

Gabrielle helped Aru Orcas and several other warriors lever Hercules onto the white crystalline beach, then grabbed her staff where she had left it when she had first been towed across. She turned and splashed back into the water, seeing Kalyke again grab Iolaus, and try to pull him down.

"NO!!" she shouted, and plunged toward them, praying for Iolaus' fingers to have enough strength to hold the rope.

She reached them in waist-deep water, and swung her staff powerfully at the Naiad. As it impacted with a boggy thump, Kalyke screamed as water spurted from her body. She released Iolaus and fell backward, obviously weakened momentarily. Iolaus turned to continue the fight, but Gabrielle grabbed him.

"No, Iolaus! The Cercopes say to get to shore -- there's some better way to fight her there."

They turned and drove desperately toward shore, and soon were splashing out of the water. The Cercopes had managed to salvage the stretcher, and were busy trying to push Hercules onto it. The weary, protesting demi-god, saw Iolaus emerging from the pool and finally allowed himself to be maneuvered onto the sled. The little men began pulling him rapidly toward the trail that climbed sharply from the beach up the rocky slope.

Iolaus and Gabrielle reached the sand, but heard splashing behind them. They turned to see Kalyke coming after them, feral cruelty twisting her beautiful features into a mask of evil.

Aru Orcas recalled their attention. "Run!!" he shouted. "Away from water!"

Iolaus grabbed Gabrielle's hand and pulled her forward. "She said the water was her place, imbued with her magic!" Iolaus panted, his voice shaking with cold. "She must weaken on land!"

At first this did not seem to be the case, though. Gabrielle screamed as a strong hand caught her by the hair. Her hand was ripped from Iolaus' grip, but she whirled with her staff outstretched, and struck the clawing Naiad with a roundhouse blow. Kalyke was knocked backward with a scream and a spray of water. She leapt forward again quickly, but this time Iolaus had leapt in front of Gabrielle and knocked the maddened Naiad backward several feet with a punishing backhand.

"Run, Gabrielle!" he shouted. As the Naiad lunged forward again, Iolaus pivoted his body on one firmly planted leg and kicked her with a powerful thrust of his other leg. Kalyke soared backward several feet and landed on her backside. Iolaus turned and ran after Gabrielle.

The Cercopes now had Hercules well up onto the trail that wound up the rocky slope. Aru Orcas waved Gabrielle and Iolaus toward them frantically.

"Quick, run!" he shouted. "Cercopes make Earth magic!"

And indeed, over the flying crunch of their feet on the sand, and the screaming rage of the Naiad chasing behind them, Iolaus could hear all of the other Cercope warriors muttering a rumbling chant, that gradually grew in volume and sonority. He glanced back to see Kalyke gaining in her flight across the beach toward them.

Suddenly, Iolaus felt the ground shift and shudder beneath his feet, just as the Cercopean chant increased in volume. He nearly fell, but caught himself and ran on as best he could, though his speed was affected by the sudden uncertainty of his footing. He looked up and was thankful to see Gabrielle reach the dubious safety of the hard, rocky slope, climbing toward Hercules.

All at once, the ground shifted roughly as the Cercope chant modulated and became faster. Iolaus fell, this time to his knees. Expecting to feel Kalyke's cold, wet hands upon him, Iolaus whirled, and stared at an amazing sight.

The water nymph was buried up to her knees, caught in a rushing whirlpool of sand. She was screaming, but this time in fear rather than anger, and clawing desperately at the ground all around her. The whirlpool seemed to grow, however, and all the sparkling silica in a huge radius around her began to give way and telescope downward as though it were in an hourglass that had been upturned. The speed and size of the growing whirlpool matched the pace and the volume of the Cercopes wild chant.

Iolaus felt the land shift around him, and the shouts of his friends made him realize that he, too, was in danger. He turned away from the sight of Kalyke waist deep in a wildly whirling, sucking tunnel of sand. He pushed himself to his feet, and ran for the slope.

He had almost reached it when the sand beneath his feet became almost liquified, and pulled him down. He crawled forward, hearing over the booming chanting Hercules desperately shouting his name. His tired limbs were almost out of adrenaline, and he despaired of reaching the slope. He gritted his teeth, and pushed forward with the fierce determination of one who had always fought heavy odds.

Iolaus' hands reached the foot of the slope, but he felt himself being tugged backward by the force of the strange magic behind him. The sand beneath his knees was sucking at him, and his hands scrabbled at the surface of the foot of the rocky trail without finding purchase. The chant of the Cercopes was fierce and throbbing and insistent.

"IOLAUS!" came Hercules' voice from above him.

Iolaus looked up quickly to see Hercules leaning over the first switch back, reaching down toward him with a desperate hope. Iolaus pushed himself upward, but barely grazed his friend's fingertips.

The ground's shaking was now creating other hazards. Stones were loosened from the slope, and came crashing down toward the sand. Iolaus, trying to lever himself up higher, was struck by several, and the stinging blows knocked him back into the sand. Another large stone suddenly struck him on the temple, and pain and dizziness exploded in his brain.

Hercules' wordless shout of anguish helped him to hang on to consciousness, however. He raised a shaky hand to dash blood out of his eyes as he squinted upward to see Hercules still reaching for him, and calling his name.

"Don't leave me, Iolaus -- grab my hand. Come on!"

Iolaus blearily thrust away the pain, dizziness and nausea, and pushed himself up close to the rock wall. He caught a small projection and pulled with all his strength to get to his feet against the slithering sand. Holding the rocky spur, he stretched as far as he could reach. Abruptly, he felt Hercules catch his hand in a fierce hold.

Iolaus felt himself dragged upward slowly, not by the strength that was the strength of ten, but that of a man pushed to the very limit of his endurance. Iolaus felt that hold weakening, but then Hercules caught him with the other hand and was able to hold on.

Scrabbling desperately for a foothold, Iolaus at last found one and pushed upward. He felt another hand join the grip on his arm at the same time. Those forces brought him over the top, and onto the ledge.

He landed in a drenched, gasping heap beside an equally wet Hercules, who pulled him close. Gabrielle, her hair hanging in dripping tendrils, squeezed Iolaus' arm and released it. She had obviously been steadying the weary son of Zeus as he had lifted Iolaus and had reached over Hercules to help at the last

She grinned at him tiredly, then glanced up over his shoulder. "Look!" she cried, pointing back toward the beach.

Iolaus, clutching Hercules just as fiercely, turned to look over his shoulder. The whirlpool of sand was beginning to slow, as was the chant. In the deep center of the maelstrom, he saw a golden-green hand sink rapidly out of sight, and the sand begin to flow back upward. The whirlpool spun for a brief moment, just as the voices dropped to a whisper, but then it slowed until there was little movement, then none.

The chant ended. Everything was as it had been before.

Except that, of the Naiad Kalyke, nothing was left.

"Looks like the Cercopes' Earth magic was able to conquer Kalyke when she left her own place of power," Gabrielle said quietly.

"Good riddance," Iolaus muttered. He looked back to Hercules, to see his friend lying beside him in total exhaustion, his breath still coming in great heaves. His hair was plastered around his face, and his wet clothes clung to his shivering body. His blue eyes, sunken in deep, bruised hollows, regarded Iolaus in relief through half-open lids.

"Herc?!" he bent down, and caught his friend up closer.

The demi-god barely nodded, licking his blue, cracked lips. "You okay?" he croaked. He could only lift one finger to indicate Iolaus' bloodied head.

"I'm fine! Would you think about yourself for once?" Iolaus whispered fiercely, gripping his friend with all his might. "You stay with me, damn it! Don't you go where I can't follow!"

"I'm tryin'. Just tired." Hercules whispered faintly, with a ghost of a smile. He reached up to briefly brush Iolaus' face with his fingertips. His lips mouthed two more words, and the blue eyes closed.

Iolaus caught his breath in a frantic, strangled sob, and checked Hercules pulse at his neck. It was rapid and thready, but it was there. Iolaus' eyes closed in a brief moment of relief.

He looked up to see Gabrielle kneeling beside him. "Iolaus -- is he ... ?"

Iolaus shook his head quickly, defiantly, settling Hercules gently to the ground. "He's alive, but we've got to hurry."

As they rose, Iolaus stumbled a bit as dizziness hit him. Gabrielle caught his arm and steadied him. "You've got a pretty bad gash near your hairline, Iolaus. Why don't we --"

Iolaus shook his head. "There'll be time for that in Dendra."

The two friends grabbed a dry blanket and toweled off Hercules' body and hair, then wrapped him in other blankets. As Aru Orcas and the other Cercopes began refitting the travois, Iolaus said, "Chief, you and your men were amazing. How did you do that?"

Aru Orcas paused and shrugged, smiling. "Gaia is Mother. We Her people. She hear us."

"I'll say she did," Gabrielle replied, unable to look while Iolaus hurriedly changed Hercules' wet dressing. Iolaus' ill and frightened face reflected to her how bad the wound must be by now. When he was done, she helped him wrap the unconscious Hercules in what blankets they had left, gather up what few supplies they would need.

As she and Iolaus, with the Cercopes' help, began maneuvering Hercules onto the stretcher, Gabrielle thought of another question.

"Is she really gone - forever?"

Aru Orcas nodded. "Into Gaia. She water; Gaia earth." He glanced toward the empty beach, then up toward the dim light of the cleft in the wall above. "You go out now."

Iolaus held out an arm to Aru Orcas. "We are in your debt many times, Aru Orcas. Thank you, and all your people, for all you've done."

The chief solemnly took Iolaus' arm in the warrior's grip, but shook his head and pointed to the light of the opening above. "One last thing," he said.

Iolaus nodded and hurriedly returned to their preparations. In a few moments, Hercules was strapped securely onto the stretcher, and Iolaus began pulling him up toward the narrow opening, following Aru Orcas. Gabrielle followed with what few supplies they needed, and with the rest of the warriors.

Moments later, Iolaus and Gabrielle strode out into the brilliance of sunset through the tall, narrow break almost hidden in the mountain's jagged face. They were at the top of a long, sloping, rocky hillside that looked out across a wide plain. They looked out, then turned back to wave at the Cercopes clustered in the shadows of the opening with glad cries of thanks.

For, just at the foot of the slopes below, spread out less than half a league before them, and glittering with a warm and welcoming radiance, were the myriad lanterns of Dendra.

"We've done all we can do right now. The rest is up to him."

The words hit Iolaus like a ton of marble blocks. Gabrielle caught his arm as he sank back on to a bench, staring at the beautiful, white-robed High Priestess and her attendant priests in shock.

After a moment, he found his voice. "But -- but he's Hercules! He's the son of Zeus! He's the cousin of Asclepius himself -- doesn't that mean anything to you people?"

The Priestess smiled at him with motherly compassion, though she could not be many years his senior. "It means more to us that he is Hercules ... just for himself. Few people have done more to heal this land than Hercules ... and you, Iolaus. And healing is everything to us here in this place. But our art, strong though it is, still has its limits. We have done what we can to save his leg, and his life, but for now we must wait. By morning we should know more."

Iolaus stared into the Priestess' green eyes in hopeless entreaty, unable to speak. Gabrielle patted his arm gently. "Hercules is so strong, Iolaus. And you fought so hard to get him here -- that's got to make a difference!"

Iolaus glanced at her briefly, then closed his eyes and turned away, shaking his head. "What if it isn't enough?"

Gabrielle looked up at the Priestess helplessly, her own eyes filling with tears at the pathos and self-recrimination in Iolaus' voice. The Priestess smiled and reached out to lay a gentle hand on Iolaus' head.

"You must not give up hope now, Greatheart," she said softly. Iolaus slowly raised his head to look up at her with all the suffering of the last four days in his sapphire blue eyes. She slid her hand down to cup his cheek gently, and Iolaus felt a breath of benison touch his heart as sweetly as her lavender-scented fingers touched his face.

She went on in a voice that was mercy itself. "Iolaus, you saved his life and kept his soul knitted to his body with every ounce of your knowledge, strength and love. Trust that, and us, and his love for you ... to do all possible to save him."

Iolaus studied her a moment longer, as a tear slipped out of his brimming eyes, and glided unnoticed down his bronzed cheek. After a moment he nodded, and touched her hand in mute thanks.

"Can I see him now?" Iolaus put the heels of his hands to his eyes for a moment, sniffed, and looked back up at the High Priestess. "I'd like to stay with him tonight."

The Priestess nodded, watching him gravely. "If that is what you wish. We go now to the inner sanctum to beseech Lord Asclepius for Hercules now; others will be caring for him through the night. Is it not enough?"

Iolaus rose to his feet, and shook his head, smiling slightly. He looked at the High Priestess and met her eyes squarely, surprised that she was not taller. "I know you and all the others here will do all you can, but I -- I just have to be there."

The Priestess nodded, her own eyes brilliant with tenderness or tears, Iolaus could not tell which.

"Of course," she replied, with a motion of blessing. She moved away with the priests down the colonnaded hallway.

Iolaus turned to Gabrielle as she rose from the bench. He smiled at her and took her hands. "How can I ever thank you for everything you've done for him, and for me?"

Gabrielle reached up and put her fingers across his lips gently. "S-s-h! No need of thanks between us," she said, gently. "You would do the same for me and Xena." "Always," Iolaus said, gathering her in his arms.

She hugged him tightly, and they stood holding each other in silent comfort for a moment. As they pulled away, Gabrielle studied the lines of exhaustion on her friend's face, the deep hollows that still circled the azure eyes, and the stitched cut near his hairline that still had to be painful.

"Iolaus," she pleaded. "Why don't you come and rest for awhile before you go to sit with Hercules? The Priestess said he would be well taken care of, and watched through the night. You are bone tired, and hurting yourself. Please ... just come and sleep for a few --"

But Iolaus was already shaking his head. "No. I can't, Gabrielle. Look, they've been taking care of Hercules for the last three hours. During that time they took us to those wonderful healing baths, and got us warmed up, and ... well, cleaner than I've been in the last week!"

Gabrielle nodded as they chuckled together. Iolaus continued. "And they gave us these really kewl comfortable clothes, just like they wear." Iolaus indicated their soft, clean apparel.

Gabrielle looked down at the floor-length white chiton she wore, with its clinging folds, gold trim and gold looped fasteners at each shoulder, and the gold Greek key pattern at the hem. She wondered if she did it as much justice as Iolaus, even in his rather battered condition, did for what he wore. The white and gold-trimmed, short-sleeved, belted tunic emphasized his breadth of shoulder and his warm, golden brown skin. The full pants gathered in at the ankle accentuated his strong thighs and legs that were long for his height.

His voice recalled her attention. "And I napped a little, before you returned from your bath and supper. So, don't worry about me. I -- I couldn't sleep anyway, not without knowing ..."

She nodded. "I understand."

"But there's no sense in both of us staying up," he said, firmly. "And you didn't get a nap, so I really want you to go on and get some sleep."

Gabrielle gazed at him in weary acceptance. "If there was anything I could do, I'd stay with you. Are you sure you don't need me?"

Iolaus shook his head, but turned his brilliant eyes to her hair, as he straightened a curl and smoothed it back over her shoulder. "Just ... um ... say a little prayer to Asclepius for him before you go to sleep, okay?" he whispered. "You're as pure in heart as Hercules is. It might just get through better than mine."

Gabrielle reached up and stroked his cheek in mute comfort, tears brimming from her sea-blue eyes.

Iolaus' eyes closed and his lips trembled. After a long moment he went on, "I just know that ... if his crisis comes tonight, then I've got to be there. To reach him ... to call him back ... or to be beside him when --"

His voice broke, and he stopped;Gabrielle choked, and swallowed a sob. "No heart could be impure that loves so much ..." she whispered, "and no bond so strong could easily be broken."

She kissed his cheek, then turned and walked away down the hall to her room. Iolaus watched her for a moment, his fingers reaching up to where her lips had touched. Then, he took a deep breath, turned, and opened the door to Hercules' room.

He entered the high-ceilinged, sweetly scented chamber to see a priest and priestess working quietly in the golden lamplight with the still form on the bed.

The room was warmed by a glowing brazier in one corner. The young priestess was gently oiling Hercules' dry, cracked lips with olive oil and aloe. The older, dark-haired priest had been the first of the Temple healers to meet them on their arrival. He had introduced himself to them as Hippolytus and had immediately taken Hercules care closest in hand. He was now completing the redressing of Hercules' wound, with the paraphernalia of a completed herbal fomentation on a small table at his side.

The priest looked up, and nodded gravely, then went back to his task. The priestess gathered up a small basket of supplies, and turned to leave the room, smiling gently at Iolaus as she passed him.

As the door closed behind her, the priest finished his work, replaced the warm coverings on Hercules, and rose to gather his supplies as well.

Iolaus stepped to the end of the bed and cleared his throat. "Um... Hippolytus ... what do you think of the wound?" he asked unsteadily.

The dark-haired man glanced up at Iolaus with a kindly expression, then back down to his work. He replied slowly, but without hesitation, "I'm sure you know it's very bad. The evil humors have infected the wound, and the site is swollen with their poisons -- despite all the obvious good care you have given it. But because of the unavoidable trauma of the journey and the difficulties it posed, there's a real possibility that those humors have invaded his blood and bone, and begun to travel through the body. If that has happened, he is in grave danger, and we can only rely on his Olympian heritage and the mercy of Asclepius. We need to see the gathered humors to burst, and be released -- if they don't, well ... let's just hope that they do."

The priest finished repacking his supplies, and looked up to see Iolaus' face blanch and his jaw muscles bunch. The dark-haired man reached out and touched Iolaus' arm with a quick, firm motion.

"Those are the difficulties he faces. The High Priestess and I do see signs of hope, however. Hercules is strong, and incredibly healthy. His leg has not lost circulation, though it has been compromised. The break in his thighbone is a clean one, and seems to be knitting."

The priest studied Iolaus compassionately as he continued. "And he has you beside him."

Iolaus shook his head. "But he may be too far gone to remember that," he whispered.

"No, Iolaus," the priest replied, with quiet assurance. "He knows -- he knows."

Iolaus nodded in mute thanks as the priest smiled, brushed past him with a touch on his shoulder, and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Iolaus stood still for a brief moment at the foot of the bed, just looking at Hercules. The demi-god lay very still at the moment, his breathing slow and deep, but with a slight frown on his face even in his unconscious state. The prominent bones of his brow ridge, chin and high cheekbones stood out with gaunt starkness, shadowed by dark hollows. The pallor of his face and blue tinge of his lips was very evident when compared to the brown of his bare, bronzed skin. His torn and filthy clothing had been removed and he had been bathed by the Temple acolytes. Only his shoulders and one arm were uncovered; his naked form was otherwise snugly wrapped in blankets of white lambs wool with a soft brown fur over all.

Hercules' best friend stepped closer to the head of the bed and, seeing the gooseflesh on Hercules' exposed arm, gently raised the limb and lifted the covers to tuck the arm gently inside. After replacing the covers, Iolaus pulled a stool close to Hercules' side and sat down, studying his friend with tired, anxious eyes. He placed one arm across Hercules' chest, feeling its reassuring rise and fall, but also the frighteningly rapid and thready pulsing of the demigod's usually slow and powerfully booming heartbeat.

"Hey, Herc, buddy, I'm here," Iolaus said, quietly. He tried to imbue his voice with its old lightness, but it was hard to do. "I'm here with you now. Why don't you wake up, Herc? Come on, wake up and talk to me, pal!"

There was no response, not that Iolaus expected there to be. He sighed, pulled the chair up even closer and leaned into its lyre-backed frame. He reached under the cover and brought out Hercules right hand, and grasped it tightly.

"Well, Herc, I'm not going anywhere. You might as well come on out of it and talk to me, because I'm not going to leave you alone."

For the next hour and a half, Iolaus talked, sang and declaimed to the unmoving Hercules. He spoke of their travels and adventures, sang the bawdy songs Hercules often deplored, told stories about their shared boyhood, and frequently cajoled, urged, and pleaded with his friend to awaken. From time to time, a priest or priestess quietly entered the room to check Hercules' wound, or to examine his eyes and feel his skin temperature and heartbeat. Iolaus made room for these ministrations, but rarely stopped in his constant monologue.

In the deepest part of the night, however, he began to be interrupted by Hercules' growing restiveness. The son of Zeus began to twist and turn in bed with the rising fever, requiring Iolaus to hold him and sometimes a priest or priestess to guard and stabilize the wounded leg. Hercules began to mutter deliriously, calling out mumbled warnings or pleas to Gabrielle, to the Cercopes, even to his mother, Deianeira and his children, but most especially to Iolaus. The hunter tried to soothe his friend over and over with assurances that they were both okay, but Hercules could not hear him.

Iolaus grew increasingly frightened by his beloved friend's mounting fever, delirium and pain. Despite his own exhaustion, Iolaus was continuously occupied in trying to keep Hercules from thrashing right off the narrow bed and to keep his coverings intact. Seeing his weariness, several of the attendants offered to take his place, but Iolaus flatly refused.

At the third hour of the night, Hippolytus reentered the room to find Iolaus fighting to keep Hercules down on the bed, almost lying across him, holding on to both his arms while the demi-god thrashed and muttered. A priestess held Hercules' leg as still as she could.

"Iolaus!" Hercules suddenly cried out. "No! You can't be dead! Don't leave me!"

Iolaus' voice. despite its weary hoarseness, was calm and steady as he comforted his friend. However, Hippolytus could see the fear in his eyes and the dark, bruised-looking circles under those eyes. "S-s-h, it's all right ... I'm okay, Herc! Don't you remember? You fought the Fire Enforcer and brought me back from the Other Side! Just take it easy!"

Hippolytus was briefly stunned at these revelations, and exchanged amazed glances with the priestess. Iolaus' voice, gently pleading with Hercules to relax, to hear him, recalled the priest to his purpose, and he hurried forward. Iolaus looked up at him and Hippolytus could read the plea for aid in his wide blue eyes.

"I was told of this change in his condition," Hippolytus explained, as he set an earthenware flask on the table. "The High One and I thought that a mild sedative potion might help -- if we can get it down him."

Iolaus laughed briefly with no mirth. "That's gonna be fun. But we've got to try," he panted. "He's gonna hurt himself or one of us before long if we can't calm him down."

As Hippolytus grasped the flailing arm on the side opposite Iolaus, he glanced at a wide bruise beginning to darken the hunter's left cheekbone -- a new addition to the cuts and bruises Hippolytus had treated when they first arrived.

"Looks like he's already got a lick or two in."

"Yeah." Iolaus grimaced as they both had to push against Hercules to keep him from rolling. "He's weak as a kitten, for him, but still as strong as an ox compared to us -- so look out." He noticed with approval the gentle yet knowledgeable way that Hippolytus grasped Hercules. "How do you want to do this?"

"We're going to sit him up a bit, then you're going to try to reach him, to get him to cooperate even in his delirium, and I'm going to try to pour this down his throat." Hippolytus panted, as they both fought against the demigod's powerful delirium.

"All right." Iolaus' voice was determination itself. "Let's do it."

It was a torturous procedure for everyone involved, but they were finally successful. Iolaus managed to rouse Hercules enough so that he actually drank more of the elixir than what spilled out of his mouth. Despite the fact that Hercules had managed to choke down the dose, he was still totally disoriented.

The son of Zeus peered at Iolaus, his eyes glazed, and muttered, "Hera's archers -- we get 'em all?"

"Yeah, Herc," Iolaus replied, gently. He glanced at Hippolytus' curious face with a shrug, then back to Hercules. "You just try to rest now." But the demigod's eyes were already closing. As they lay him back onto his pillows, he again began to mutter and move in delirium.

"Hera's archers?" Hippolytus asked, continuing to help Iolaus hold Hercules in the bed.

"It's a long story," Iolaus sighed, glancing at the healer ruefully.

Hippolytus raised his eyebrows with a slight laugh. "Sounds like you two have a lot of those."

Iolaus smiled, but with a shadow in his eyes. He looked back at the muttering, restive demi-god fondly. "We do. About twenty-five years worth."

Hippolytus said no more, but understood a bit better the strong and shining bond of love and devotion that joined these men as brothers. Together, the healer and the hunter watched and waited to see if the medicine would help. It took some time, but slowly the medicine began to do its work. The wild delirium faded into a fitful unconsciousness, and the thrashing ceased.

Hippolytus was finally able to release his hold, and examine Hercules' leg again. After doing so, he looked up at Iolaus gravely. "It's still very bad, and the thrashing around hasn't helped any. I'm afraid if there's no change in the next two hours or so, we're going to have to make a decision about amputation."

Iolaus closed his eyes, his heart wrenching. "I don't think I can make that decision for him, Hippolytus," he whispered.

The healer rose, replaced the blankets, and laid a comforting hand on Iolaus' shoulder. "I know how hard this is for you. But I have the feeling that there's no one else Hercules would trust more to make this decision. Besides, Iolaus," Hippolytus voice was gentle, "It may come down to his leg, or his life."

Iolaus' eyes flew up to the healer's face in mute appeal not to have heard those words, but he saw the terrible truth on the man's kind countenance. Iolaus' face became bone-white.

Hippolytus pressed the broad shoulder more strongly. "There is still hope. Don't give up now, when you've got him this far. Between his strength and yours, and the mercy of Lord Asclepius, all may yet be well."

Hippolytus smiled, placed his hand on Iolaus head in mute blessing, then took the empty flask and left, motioning for the young priestess to follow. Iolaus watched them go, then turned to look down at Hercules, though his friend's familiar and beloved features blurred in his gaze.

"Okay, Herc," he whispered. "You heard the man. You can do this. You've got to hang on, and fight. You hold on now, you got me, buddy?"

Hercules stirred, but muttered something incomprehensible. As he did so, Iolaus noticed that his teeth were chattering again. He touched Hercules forehead to find that he was burning with fever.

"Damn," he whispered. He turned to the other small table, where one of the priestesses had left a bowl of cold water and some clean cloths. Iolaus dipped a cloth in the cold water, turned the covers down to Hercules' waist, and began sponging the cold water over his face, arms and chest. As he did so, Iolaus began to speak.

"Okay, Asclepius," he pleaded fiercely. "I've never been one to ask for it, but we really need some help here. After all, this is Hercules -- your own cousin. He's told me that you're the one member of his Olympian family who's actually done something to help humans, instead of just using them. So Hercules ought to mean enough to you to merit saving. His whole life has been about helping people. He's saved me --" Iolaus' voice broke, but he took a quick breath and went on. "He's saved me over and over again since we were just kids. He gave me something important to live for, to work for. He's a hero in every sense of the word, and you ought to know the world needs more of those."

Iolaus paused, glancing anxiously around the silent, firelit room as he continued to work. "Come on, please! I'll do anything you ask to save him. Give me a sign here!" he burst out finally.

Abruptly, the still body beneath his hands stiffened. Iolaus stopped his work, and gazed at Hercules in fearful anticipation.

Suddenly, Hercules began to convulse, his whole body shaking in heart-stopping paroxysms of contraction.

"HERC!" Iolaus cried, grabbing his friend before the violent throes could shake the demi-god onto the floor. He held his big friend as best he could, and just tried to keep Hercules' head back so that he could breathe.

The spasm seemed to take forever, though it was only moments. When Hercules suddenly relaxed into total boneless quiet, Iolaus was briefly too stunned and fearful to move.

"Herc?" Iolaus whispered, tears falling unheeded from his eyes. "Oh, gods, no! Is this your sign?"

He unlocked his hand from one of Hercules' arms, and started to reach for his friend's throat, to feel for the pulse that he was all too afraid was not there.

Suddenly, a brighter light filled the room. Iolaus looked up, and on the other side of the bed, now stood a man with long, silvered black hair, a close-cropped salt and pepper beard, a brilliantly white tunic, and dark eyes of amazing kindness.

"Hello, Iolaus," the man said, as the light faded. His voice was deep, and softer than silence.

Iolaus gazed up at him, and his face was streaked with tears of desperate hope and desperate anguish.

"Dr. Asclepius, I presume," he managed to whisper. The god who had once been a mortal nodded his head slowly.

Into the silence that followed, Iolaus said, brokenly, "You're ... you're here to tell me why he has to die, aren't you?"

Asclepius shook his head, still silent.

"Then ... then ... you're here to save him?" The words burst out in a fierce, desperate torrent.

Asclepius shook his head again, his eyes gazing deep into Iolaus'.

"Then, damn it, why are you here?" Iolaus cried.

"Just to tell you how unnecessary I am to this process," Asclepius replied, warmly. "You've already saved Hercules, Iolaus."

Iolaus could not speak, simply mouthed the words "Saved Hercules?"

Asclepius nodded. "Everything you said about my cousin is true. Hercules is a hero, and he's done a hero's work to keep this land healed and whole. But he couldn't have done nearly as much without you, Iolaus. Because, besides fighting beside him and guarding his back, you've always been the one to keep *Hercules* healed and whole."

Iolaus glanced down in dawning wonder at the quiet features of the brother of his heart. "You mean .. you mean he isn't dead?"

Asclepius shook his head. "The crisis is past. You called him back. He was very close, though. For the last four days, he has been poised on a precarious fulcrum between life and death. Even with his strength and power, his injuries could have killed him. You were the force that tipped the scale toward life, Iolaus. Hercules' life."

Iolaus stretched an arm across Hercules' chest to press the pulse point at his friend's throat. Against his fingers and against his arm, Iolaus could feel, strong and steady now, the slow, tremendous throb of Hercules' powerful heart. And against his fingers, too, he felt the sweat that was breaking out on Hercules' skin, then saw it beginning to drip from his body and pool in the hollows of his throat, elbows, and eyes.

"Check his leg," Asclepius instructed, with a grin. Iolaus stared at him uncomprehendingly for a brief moment. Then he jumped up, and ripped the covering from Hercules' bare body.

Iolaus crowed, "The wound -- it's draining!"

Indeed, the dressing was stained -- no, drenched with drainage from the wound, and Iolaus could tell already that his thigh was no longer nearly so swollen. Iolaus slowly and carefully replaced one light blanket, for Hercules wouldn't need other blankets right now. He pulled his chair close to the bed again, and watched Hercules' face for a long moment, realizing he was finally relaxed in a deep, natural sleep. He clutched his friend's big hand, and it was cool to his touch. Then Iolaus raised his head to face the god of healing with a radiant smile, though tears still smeared his eyes.

"There's no way I'll ever be able to thank you for this, Asclepius," Iolaus said, hoarsely, but with a quiet, intense joy. "But anything I have to give is yours."

Asclepius shook his head with a laugh. "You don't have to thank me. And you've already given everything that was required -- and more. His healing is as much your doing as it is mine." He studied Iolaus with bright compassion. "Your quest is over, Iolaus. You can rest now."

Iolaus suddenly leaned over, rested his head on one arm on Hercules' chest, and wept, releasing his bone deep fatigue, his fears, and his all-encompassing relief and joy. The god of healing waved his hand and a deep, restful sleep stole over the tired body and the true heart of Hercules' best friend, as he joined Hercules in the balm of Morpheus ...

About thirty minutes later, Hippolytus stepped into the room again. As soon as he caught sight of Iolaus' position, he feared the worst, and strode quickly to the bedside to examine Hercules. But as soon as he touched Hercules' skin, and saw the sweat that continued to bead the big man's face and body, he knew that the crisis was past. He carefully, gently lifted the cover from the foot of the bed to see Hercules' leg. When he observed the drainage, and the reduction in swelling, he knew Hercules was no longer in danger.

Hippolytus replaced the cover, then took one of the other blankets Iolaus had discarded, and placed it gently over the hunter's broad back and shoulders. He decided that morning would be soon enough to change Hercules' dressing; both heroes needed the rest badly. Besides, morning was only a few hours away. He turned and walked to the door, glancing back at the two friends with a thoughtful smile. Then he slipped out quietly.

Hercules slowly swam upward toward consciousness with the awareness of a very unfamiliar feeling of fragility, as well as the awareness of an odd weight on his chest. As he struggled to gain strength enough just to open his eyes, he wondered groggily what could have caused the incredible, unfamiliar weakness he was feeling.

He shifted his position slightly and felt a deep pain in his right leg ... and suddenly everything came rushing back to him in a kaleidoscopic jumble of images. As he sorted through the remembrances, the most recent one abruptly surfaced. The last thing he remembered was desperately pulling Iolaus to safety from the whirlpool that had consumed the evil Naiad Kalyke, and which had nearly claimed Iolaus. But the vision grew dark before he knew whether or not Iolaus had truly been safe. And it was that terrible fear that jolted him to consciousness.

"Iolaus!" He tried to call out, but his voice was nothing but a cracked whisper.

His eyes opened to a blurred and watery world, but as he blinked, his vision slowly cleared. He saw the high ceiling of a whitewashed room bathed in the clear, golden light of early morning. A painted motif of snakes entwined with ivy ran around the room at the border of walls and ceiling. Hercules frowned, blearily thinking he had seen that design before.

As he became more aware of his surroundings, Hercules again noticed the warm weight against his chest. He looked down and there he saw the object of his concern.

"Iolaus," he whispered, feeling a jolt of relief so deep that it was almost pain.

Hercules relaxed into his bank of pillows and studied his friend's face anxiously.

Iolaus lay deeply asleep, his head pillowed on one arm and Hercules' chest. Hercules realized that Iolaus' other hand was loosely clasped with his own right hand. His face was relaxed with the amazing innocence Iolaus always displayed in sleep, but Hercules could see the lines of worry and fear that had not yet been erased, as well as the faint tracks of tears. He sighed when he saw the stitched cut on his friend's forehead, near his hairline, and frowned when he saw the dark bruise on Iolaus' cheekbone. Hercules felt the sting of tears behind his own eyes when he thought of what Iolaus had gone through to get him here. He reached up to gently brush a wisp of curly hair from Iolaus' forehead, and was startled by a quiet, deep voice.

"Don't wake him."

Hercules glanced quickly toward the source of the voice, and saw his cousin Asclepius rising from a chair in a corner of the room. As Asclepius came to the bedside with a welcoming smile, Hercules answered it with one of his own, but then glanced at Iolaus as he replied.

"I wasn't going to," he replied, softly, hoarsely. "Is he -- is he all right?"

Asclepius looked at Iolaus with paternal eyes. "Now he is."

Hercules looked up at Asclepius questioningly, and the god explained, "Now that you're safe and beginning to heal."

Hercules looked back at his friend's quiet face with a wondering tenderness.

"Yeah, that's my Iolaus." He took a quick, shuddering breath. "But really, Asclepius, does he have any injuries?"

The god smiled at Hercules' intensity. "Several cracked ribs that he hasn't had time to notice, from the fight with the Naiad. That cut on his head from the stone that struck him as he was escaping the whirlpool. Assorted cuts, bruises and scrapes. Nothing more serious than that --"

"What about this bruise on his face? It looks fresh."

Asclepius regarded Hercules steadily, with sympathy. "You were delirious during the night, when your fever was at its peak. Iolaus and some of my people had to hold you down. Despite your weakness, that's still not an easy task."

"You're saying I hit him?" Hercules said quietly, his jaw muscles bunching. At his cousin's nod, the demi-god sighed. " Damn. I was afraid of that. Is his cheekbone okay? I -- I didn't hurt him anywhere else, did I?"

Asclepius shook his head. "No. But he wouldn't have cared -- he knew you didn't mean it. He was as afraid of hurting you trying to keep you safe."

Hercules' eyes went back to his friend's face. He shook his head but said nothing, his throat working. He studied Iolaus' features with a deep pathos in his eyes that touched the heart of the god of healing.

"And how are you feeling?" Asclepius asked, watching the demigod's face.

Hercules looked up at his cousin with his blue topaz eyes jeweled with tears. "You mean besides humbled and amazed that I have a friend like Iolaus? A friend that I all too often take for granted?"

"Yes," Asclepius said gently.

Hercules pondered the question. "I still feel incredibly weak. I'm sore all over. My leg hurts when I move it at all." Fear flooded his eyes as he asked, "My leg. It's ... it's still there, isn't it?"

Asclepius reached out to squeeze Hercules' shoulder reassuringly. "Yes, it's still there, Hercules. The wound is beginning to heal; the infection is draining. You still have your leg ... thanks to Iolaus."

Hercules nodded. "I know. He went through hell for me."

"Just like you have for him." Asclepius watched Hercules' face as a myriad of emotions played over it. He squeezed the broad shoulder again and Hercules looked back up at him. "For both of you, devotion is as natural as breathing. Let go of your fears for him, and accept this evidence of his devotion."

Hercules sighed, and nodded with a more peaceful smile. He reached out and brushed the hair out of Iolaus' face. Asclepius waved his hand over Iolaus' still form and spoke quietly. "Iolaus, awaken gently."

The compact form stirred slightly, and Asclepius glanced back at Hercules. "Good-bye for now, cousin. Try to stay healthy, and keep Iolaus that way!" Hercules smiled. "I'll do my best. It's not always easy."

As Asclepius laughed and disappeared, Hercules looked back at Iolaus to see the azure eyes slowly open. As those eyes blinked and focused on his friend's face, Iolaus stiffened, then bounced upright in his chair.

"Hercules? You're awake!" Iolaus shouted, joyfully, tightening the grip on Hercules' right hand that he had held even in sleep. He clutched Hercules' shoulder and shook it gently with his left hand.

"As a matter of fact, I've been awake for quite some time." Hercules smiled, regarding Iolaus in deep, if still weary contentment. "Just waiting on you, sleepyhead."

Iolaus laughed, a trifle unsteadily, his eyes were suspiciously bright as he studied Hercules' face. "Yeah, you were? So ... are you okay? How do you feel?"

"Well, I don't think I'm up to any foot races at the moment, but I'm doing a lot better than what I last remember," Hercules answered.

"Yeah, guess so" Iolaus replied, a shadow crossing his face at the memory. He added, gratefully, "Thanks to Asclepius."

"Not quite." Hercules' voice was intent and firm. "He says it was thanks to you, Iolaus. And he's right."

Iolaus' smile crept back, as a slight flush touched his cheeks. He shrugged. "Yeah, he told me the same thing. But I don't care about that. All that matters is that you're better."

Hercules shook his head. "It's *not* all that matters. I wouldn't be here without you, and that incredible persistence and courage of yours. I don't know if you realize it, but I don't just owe you my leg and my life ... I owe you my soul, too."

Iolaus eyebrows lifted, grateful but surprised. "Well, now, Herc ... that's a bit dramatic, isn't it?"

"No, it's not," Hercules said gravely. "A soul taken by Kalyke would be hers forever."

"Oh." The smile fled from Iolaus' face, sudden fear and vast relief gripping his heart as he realized what might have been. In a voice that was bantering even though it wavered a bit, he continued. "Hey, well, it makes sense that I would redeem your soul. After all ... you were my redemption over and over when we were kids."

Hercules looked down at their clasped hands, shaking his head again. "You've never owed me anything, Iolaus. You weren't the only one needing redemption, and I wasn't the only one giving it. You gave as good as you got."

His eyes found Iolaus' again. "Some people call me a hero, but everything I know about heroism, I learned from you," Hercules said, his voice fierce with pride and love for his friend. "It seems so ... so inadequate ... to just say thanks, brother."

Hercules paused, looking at Iolaus with his heart in his eyes. Iolaus' smile was brilliant , his azure eyes tear-jeweled.

"Hey, I know that feeling, Herc. You've given it to me more times than I can count," Iolaus replied, with quiet but very real joy. "Just that you're here talking to me is enough. "Thanks" is just icing on the cake. And you know you're welcome, brother."

Hercules smiled, even as a single tear escaped his full eyes and slipped into his hair. He gripped Iolaus' hand tighter, bringing their clasped hands up like a bridge between them. He nodded once, meaningfully, and Iolaus nodded back, then glanced away, unable to speak.

After a moment, Iolaus lifted his left hand from Hercules' shoulder to scrub it quickly across his eyes. To make the profound emotions easier to bear, the blond looked back at Hercules with a slight, wicked grin. "Besides -- you could give me a hug, but someone might come in, and then think what happens to your image!"

Hercules chuckled, though the laughter was a bit choked by tears. "I don't know, it seems my image should be able to stand the sight of me thanking my best friend for saving my life."

Iolaus laughed briefly, then grimaced and released Hercules' hand to put pressure against his aching side. "Don't make me laugh, Herc -- it hurts."

Hercules nodded. "I shouldn't wonder -- Asclepius says you've got several cracked ribs from that fight with Kalyke."

Iolaus giggled, wincing even as he did so. "I told you not to do that!"

Hercules shook his head, and said, with some amazement, "I didn't say it to be funny. I mean, think about it Iolaus -- you're laughing because you got your ribs broken in a life or death fight?"

Through a few stifled giggles, Iolaus went on. "Well, Herc, doesn't it strike you as just the least bit humorous that a cracked up Naiad cracked up my ribs?"

Hercules made a sound between a chuckle and a groan. "Actually -- no. Iolaus, you're really sick. Go get one of the healers and tell him you need help immediately!"

Iolaus laughed again and, despite the pain in his sides, relished how good it felt. "If I tell him anything Herc, I'll tell him to bring his gear and give you a transfusion for your depleted sense of humor!"

"How 'bout a splint, instead -- to straighten out your warped one!" Both men laughed, and at that moment the door opened to admit Gabrielle and Hippolytus.

Gabrielle entered with a doubtful expression, almost afraid to trust the good news of Hercules' recovery, which Hippolytus had just given her as she awoke. When she saw Hercules awake and alert, and both he and Iolaus laughing heartily at a silly joke, she turned a radiant face to Hippolytus.

"He really is all right!"

Hippolytus was already grinning slightly. "They both are. A bit punchy yet, but I think now at last they're *both* healed."

"Now, this is the life, isn't it?" Iolaus inquired lazily of no one in particular, breaking a long silence.

It was two days since their arrival in Dendra, and he, Hercules, and Gabrielle were enjoying the warm spring sunshine in the Temple garden. Hercules and Gabrielle sat in comfortable chairs with padded footstools. Hercules' broken leg was further supported by another pillow on the wide footstool. Iolaus sprawled on a blanket on the ground between them. Both Iolaus and Gabrielle were now in their more familiar clothing which the Temple staff had washed and mended for them. Hercules, however, now wore the white Temple clothing, though with looser-fitting pants, which easily fitted over the splints and bandages of his broken leg. His clothes, especially his leather pants, had been much the worse for wear, and had been discarded.

Gabrielle finally replied to Iolaus' observation in comfortable, wordless agreement, "M-m-m-m,"

Hercules answered, without opening his eyes, "Yeah, you say that now, Iolaus, but it won't be long before you're going to be ripe and ready to go after the first outlaw gang that we hear about, or to go slay the next monster some villager comes running to complain about."

"Well, yeah, maybe, if my partner is ready to hit the trail by then," Iolaus said. "But that still doesn't change the fact that this is the vacation I was trying to get us when we had that little griffon problem. So far, this vacation's way better."

Hercules reached down and gently pulled a lock of his friend's unruly curls, still without opening his eyes, or changing his recumbent position.

"Hey, what was that for?" Iolaus complained, still lazily.

"Just to remind you that none of it was your fault."

"Yeah, okay."

Hercules started to pursue the note of doubt in his best friend's voice, but decided that it was not worth the effort, especially when he probably would never change Iolaus' mind about that issue. The silence between them all lengthened again, and was nearly perfect enough to be broken only by snoring, when a strong, familiar voice broke into it.

"I have got to hear the story behind this!"

Iolaus opened his eyes, squinting up against the flecks of bright sky through the dappled shade. He raised himself up on his elbows and identified the tall form standing at his feet. "Xena?"

These words finally penetrated Gabrielle's near sleep, and she rose with a glad cry. "Xena!"

She jumped up and met the taller woman with a quick embrace, as Iolaus slowly sat up, wincing as he held his tightly bandaged ribs. He leaned carefully against the arm of Hercules' chair.

Hercules roused and sat up a bit straighter, then smiled up at the warrior princess warmly. "Hello, Xena. It's good to see you. I would get up, but it's a bit difficult to do at the moment."

"I can see that," she replied, glancing at the splinted leg, and Hercules' still-gaunt face, her arm around Gabrielle. "You just stay there, Hercules." Her eyes turned to Iolaus, and took in the bandages that swathed his chest and abdomen, and the bruises and cuts now healing on his face. "You, too, Iolaus. Besides, both of you know you don't need to stand on ceremony with me."

She pulled the chair around so that they all could see each other well, then removed her sword and harness, and sat down with a sigh. Gabrielle sat on the footstool beside her.

"So, who's going to fill me in?" Xena asked.

Gabrielle shook her head. "No, you first. What happened with the bandit raid at Delphi? Did the rumors turn out to be true?"

"Yes, they did," Xena replied. "Unfortunately for the bandits, they ran into a little surprise party that King Melkos and I devised for them in the Oracle's cave. A troop of soldiers, King Melkos, and I were hidden in the treasure chamber and caught them red-handed."

Hercules laughed. "Sounds like a great surprise party, all right."

Xena smiled. "It was. Those bandits were really pretty stupid when you think about it. Turns out, King Melkos hadn't heard rumors like the message to us said, Gabrielle, but rather the Oracle herself had warned of the raid. The difficulty was interpreting her warning and deciding when the raid would be. I helped the king out with that, and with setting up and springing the trap, and the entire bandit force is now in the king's prison. Hopefully any other bandits will think twice about trying to rob the temple of a priestess who can foretell the future."

Everyone chuckled, then Xena went on, studying them all closely. "But it looks like my adventure was tame compared to yours. What happened to you all?"

Gabrielle and Iolaus both took deep breaths to comply when Xena raised a hand and spoke again quickly, "Wait, sorry! It'll have to be the short version! I hate to rush it, but we have to leave soon, Gabrielle. I just got word on my way into town that Joxer is in jail in Sparta -- something about impersonating a warlord."

"Joxer -- a warlord?" Gabrielle laughed, along with the others. "I can't imagine even Joxer trying to pull that one off -- especially in Sparta."

Xena answered, "Of course we can't imagine it," she replied with a long-suffering sigh, "but there's no limit to what Joxer's fantasy life might lead him into."

"And you know the Spartans," Iolaus added, grinning. "No sense of humor at all."

"Or imagination," Hercules said, exchanging grins with his best friend.

"Well, so who's going to give me the synopsis of your adventures?" Xena asked.

"Why don't you do it, Herc?" Iolaus suggested, rising, and extending a hand to Gabrielle. "Gabrielle and I have a few things to talk about, and you can give Xena the bare bones of the story better than either of us." The blond hunter winked as Xena, leaned closer to her, and said, in a stage whisper, "Herc's a bit like the Spartans in the imagination department, you know."

Hercules grinned lazily up at his partner. "Just because I don't embroider our adventures like a Homeric epic, huh, buddy? It's a good thing for you I'm in a very relaxed mood. Go on -- I'll give Xena the real facts."

Iolaus and Gabrielle laughed and walked off together. Iolaus led the young Amazon to a bench, well away from where Hercules and Xena sat; neither of them was aware of how the thoughtful gazes of their best friends followed them. Iolaus motioned for Gabrielle to sit, then seated himself close beside her.

"Gabrielle, we haven't had a lot of time to talk these last few days, but there are some things we -- or at least I -- need to say," he began.

She nodded. "Me too."

Iolaus smiled hesitantly. "First of all, I've got to tell you how grateful I am to you for all your help on the journey here. I couldn't 've made it without you."

Gabrielle looked up at him with a small, knowing smile, and shook her head. "After what I've seen of your courage and your abilities on this trip, Iolaus, I wouldn't bet against you."

Iolaus smiled with more conviction. "Yeah? Thanks." He paused, his smile fading a bit, and studied her eyes a bit anxiously.

"Iolaus -- what is it?" Gabrielle asked, still smiling, but puzzled.

"Gabrielle, the last time we met, while we were waiting for Hercules and Xena to free Prometheus, you told me a story. Do you remember?"

Gabrielle chuckled. "Yes, I remember. About how the gods first made people. But I thought you told me you didn't remember it, " she admonished gently.

Iolaus laughed a bit self-consciously, and glanced away briefly. "Yeah, I did tell you that. On purpose. I was ... impressed by your story. I admired your wisdom and your compassion. When I ... um ... kissed you, I wasn't sure exactly how far that admiration went. I ... well, I wondered if what I was feeling ran deeper than that. And I wondered what you meant by telling me the story. Since I was so unsure, I pretended that I didn't hear it."

Gabrielle suddenly looked at him with a more serious concern. "And did your feelings run deeper?"

"No, I've come to realize they don't." he said, very carefully, and quickly added, "Don't get me wrong, I think you are an incredibly lovely, skilled, capable woman -- especially after seeing how you've handled yourself on this trip. I admire and respect you, but it's not love." As he read the relief in her eyes, he laughed with greater ease and some self-deprecation. "And that's just fine with you, isn't it?"

Gabrielle chuckled, but took his hand in some concern. "Yes, but not without me having some of the same questions and feelings, Iolaus!" She watched his reaction with an admiring smile. "And you're one of the few men around who can accept that without a lot of macho defensive posturing."

He laughed. "Wouldn't do me much good, would it?"

"It's not that. Part of what makes you so attractive and charming, besides being so easy on the eyes, is your absolute lack of that kind of stupidity. Yet you're so strong and assured, any woman would be drawn to you. And judging by what I hear, that's exactly what does happen!"

As she laughed, he shrugged, nonchalantly, then grinned rather happily. "You hear that, do you?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Yes, and I felt it from the first, too. But I think time has made me realize that even though my feelings for you are strong, but they're for a comrade, not a lover."

Iolaus smiled. "Yeah, I've come to the same conclusion. Especially seeing how you've grown through knowing Xena, and how you've changed her, and having heard some of your adventures together. It's funny, but I think you told me that story because, even back then, something inside you felt the ... bond we share. The bond of a common fate." He sighed, and glanced away, his eyes distant and thoughtful.

"You mean, being best friends to ... legends -- you to Hercules, and me to Xena," Gabrielle supplied, slowly.

Iolaus nodded, glancing at her, with a small smile. "Yeah. We're a lot alike in that, I think. " He looked away again. "I love Hercules. We've been like brothers all our lives, and I wouldn't choose to be any other place in the world. But ... well, it's like I told him once, when we were kids -- it's not always easy to be his friend. Sounds exciting, and it often is, but it's rarely comfortable to be part of a legend."

She nodded. "I'm beginning to find that out. I can't imagine what it feels like after twenty-five years."

He laughed, a bit unsteadily. His azure eyes met her aquamarine ones. "Well, I can tell you it doesn't get simpler. It gets stronger, more important, but never simpler. It's kind of like --" He paused for a moment, his eyes again distant, unfocused, as he struggled to put thoughts into words.

After a moment, he looked back at her intently. "Have you ever seen a refiner's fire?"

"Well, I've heard of them. You mean the kind of special fire that smiths use to refine ores, like gold, right?"

"Yeah, that's it," he replied, nodding. "You've got to have an incredibly hot fire. A fire so hot that it can burn away all the useless stuff, the dross. That fire burns away everything but the metal, leaving it pure, and true and amazingly strong. And that's what it's like, to be part of what they are."

He paused and Gabrielle, also thougthful, said slowly, "You're saying that the fire is everything that we go through with them, to help them and back them up."

Iolaus nodded. "It's all the bad stuff that Herc has had to go through for about as long as we can remember.It's what Xena has had to contend with since she decided to start helping people, to go against Ares and other gods like him who used her to pull humankind down."

He smiled, a bit self-consciously . "And that metal is like our friendship, mine and Herc's -- true and powerful and more priceless than any gold."

He sighed. "But you know, we still feel the pain of that burning, and we've left other parts of our lives in ashes." Iolaus' eyes on hers were warm and fierce and sad, all at once. "I think you can understand that purity, and that pain, better than anyone, because it looks to me like you and Xena are forging that same shining cord of friendship."

"So Xena is the other half of my soul, like Hercules is yours?"

Iolaus said, quietly, "You have to decide that, Gabrielle. I know it's true for me and Herc, but we've had longer to figure it out. After all this time, we know we have a destiny that is fused together so completely that it can't be separated any longer."

He took her hand, clasping her forearm in a warrior's grip. "You've gotta be aware that being devoted to a friend like Herc means you're driven to share that destiny, regardless of the cost."

"And the price of the gold of that friendship is the refiner's fire," she stated, meeting his eyes gravely.

He nodded. "That's about it. The possibility of incredible hardship for the reality of the truest friend." His voice quieted further. "And always worth it."

Gabrielle smiled, and reached up with her free hand to touch Iolaus' cheek. "I think we'll always have that bond, Iolaus."

He smiled, then took her hand from his cheek to press a kiss into her palm. "Always, Gabrielle."

"Well, I guess we'd better be going," Gabrielle said, glancing over to where Xena and Hercules sat in close conversation. "Sounds like we may need to get on the road."

They rose from the bench, and exchanged a long embrace. As they released the embrace, Iolaus stood looking into her face, his hands on her shoulders, and said, "Thank you again, comrade."

"I'm just glad I could help," she replied smiling.

As they began walking back slowly toward their friends, Iolaus said, "I hope we'll see you and Xena again soon. It was six months ago we last saw you."

"Yeah, and each time has been a major crisis," Gabrielle replied. She thought a moment, then said, "Hey, are you and Hercules planning on coming to the summer solstice festival at Corinth?"

Iolaus nodded. "We're there every year. Hercules and I are always judges of some of the contests, and we get to see his family then."

Gabrielle grinned. "That's perfect! Xena and I were just asked to come before she got the message from King Melkos. They want her to be a judge, too, and they want me to tell some of our adventures in the bard's exhibition."

"That's great!" Iolaus laughed. "We'll be able to get to be with you two without having to fight for our lives!" Iolaus paused a bit subdued. "Of course, I guess we'll have to see if Herc's ready to travel that far by then."

"I hope he is," Gabrielle said.

By this time they had neared the chairs where Xena and Hercules sat, trying not to look like they had been closely observing their friends as they approached. Xena rose, hugged Hercules quickly, then turned to Iolaus.

"I've always known you were a hero, Iolaus, " she said with a smile, as they embraced. "But I never realized you were a miracle worker, too."

Iolaus laughed as he looked up at her. "Now wait a minute -- sounds like Hercules has been embroidering the story this time."

"Didn't sound like it," Xena replied.

"Besides, we wouldn't have made it without Gabrielle," Iolaus added.

"Oh, I think you'd have made it regardless," Gabrielle answered. "But I enjoyed the adventure, guys. It'll make a great story!"

Gabrielle and Hercules embraced as Xena reached for her sword and harness and strapped them in place.

"Take care, Amazon Princess!" Hercules said, smiling up at her. "And continue to take such good care of Xena."

Gabrielle smiled and exchanged a quick, meaningful look with Iolaus. "Always." Xena looked at Gabrielle a bit uncertainly. With several shades of meaning to her voice, she asked, "Are you ready to go, Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle looked up at her tall friend, her smile unfaltering and nodding without hesitation. "Yes, I am. I just have to go by my room and pick up my pack and staff."

"I'll walk you out --" Iolaus began, but Gabrielle stopped him.

"No -- you and Hercules stay here and enjoy the sunshine. This is a better place for good-bye than out in the busy street."

The final farewell was said. As the two women walked away, both men heard Gabrielle asking Xena, "We are going to be in Corinth for the summer solstice festival, right?"

Iolaus smiled as he watched their retreating figures, then pulled the empty chair around to its former position beside Hercules' and sat down. With a sigh, he turned to see Hercules regarding him steadily, questions in his eyes.

He looked back at his friend innocently, though he knew that Hercules could read him in a way no one else could. "What?" he asked, nonchalantly.

Hercules shrugged slightly, his eyes knowing, but concerned. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Iolaus replied, with a quick smile, settling into the chair more comfortably. "I'm fine." Hercules continued to regard him steadliy, and after a brief moment, Iolaus added, "Really."

Hercules finally looked away, watching the breeze rustle through the cedars that lined the garden walls in the distance. "That was quite a good-bye for you and Gabrielle," he observed, quietly, the invitation to share open, if not the request made.

Iolaus nodded, his gaze drinking in the peaceful beauty of the fresh colors of tree and flower, his heart full of the peace of having his friend whole and healing by his side. "Yeah, it was," he replied. Glancing over at Hercules, he met his friend's questioning gaze and added, "Probably not like what you're thinking though."

Hercules' eyes spoke of apology and compassion as he held Iolaus' gaze for a moment. "And is that ... what you wanted?"

"Honestly, Herc, I'm not completely sure, but right now I think it's the best for both of us." Iolaus looked away, his smile real, but a little sad.

"Oh." Hercules studied his friend a moment longer, then looked away. After a small pause, he continued.

"You know, Iolaus, I'm probably going to be stuck here for quite a few more weeks, " the demigod said, off-handedly. "If you wanted to go with Xena and Gabrielle to Sparta, I'm sure you'd have plenty of time to get back here before I'm able to leave. They probably haven't left the city, yet, so you could --"

But Iolaus was shaking his head. "Nah. I have very little desire to go and rescue Joxer even --" he paused, then went on brightly, "even if I wasn't on vacation."

"Besides," he continued, glancing back at Hercules with a grin to lighten the earnestness of his eyes. "I'm where I belong right now, Herc."

Hercules grinned back, but met Iolaus' eyes with an earnestness of his own. "Back at ya, buddy."

Iolaus laughed, then leaned his head back against a small pillow he had confiscated from the footstool, and sighed happily. Hercules watched him for a moment longer, then followed suit.

They had been silent for several moments when Iolaus, without moving or opening his eyes, suddenly asked, "Hey, Herc, what do the priests tell you about when you'll be able to travel again?"

Hercules, a bit closer to sleep, yawned and replied, slowly, "Iolaus, I thought you just said you were on vacation."

"I am *now*, sure," Iolaus replied a bit impatiently. "And I will be for as long as you're laid up. But I'm asking about long-range stuff. Will you be able to travel by, say --"

"The summer solstice?" Hercules supplied, neither opening his eyes nor turning his head, but grinning wickedly.

Iolaus laughed. "Okay. So you heard. Well? Do you think you'll be able to travel to Corinth by then?"

Hercules, still grinning a little, said, "Well, they haven't really said much about that, but Hippolytus says I'm healing really fast, so I guess I should be."

"Good." Iolaus folded his arms across his chest and leaned his head back against his pillow again, sighing in satisfaction.

Hercules suddenly opened his eyes just a crack, looking at his resting friend with laughing speculation. Though his blue eyes shone with mischievous laughter, Hercules went on in a thoughtful voice. "Of course, now that I think about it, Hippolytus did say something yesterday about how I shouldn't push myself to walk far, even after the leg is well-healed." He paused for a moment, wiping the smile from his face, as Iolaus opened his eyes and looked over at him with some concern as the demi-god continued.

"But, you know, Iolaus if you really want to get to Corinth by then, it shouldn't be a problem. You could -- "

"Now, Herc, I'm not gonna go and leave you here by yourself," Iolaus began, staunchly.

"No, no, Iolaus, this is the perfect solution!" Hercules replied, his voice a trifle unsteady from the laughter he held within. He opened his eyes and looked at his best friend guilelessly as he spoke.

"Since you've had so much practice and gotten so good at it, you could just pull me to Corinth in my nice stretcher-bed!"

Iolaus stared at Hercules with total dismay for the three seconds it took him to realize he was being ribbed, then Hercules, having to speak through stifled giggles, continued, "Yeah -- You know, Iolaus, that might just be the best thing for me anyway. Keep my leg rested and all! You could --"

Hercules broke off as the pillow Iolaus had thrown hit him in the face. He clutched the pillow as he collapsed into helpless laughter.

Iolaus, unable to keep from laughing, grabbed up another pillow to toss. "Oh, you think that's funny, pal? Well, if anybody's riding home to Corinth it's gonna be me, Herc!"

Hercules wiped his streaming eyes, but continued to chortle He brandished the pillow, and said, "Oh, yeah, Iolaus? Then you'd better invest in a horse!"

The pillow hit Iolaus full in the face, causing Hercules to laugh even harder. As Iolaus pulled the pillow from his face, he was tousled and laughing, and a martial light filled his happy eyes. "Now, you've done it, Herc !"

And the quiet of the spring garden was filled with the sounds of their horseplay and laughter, as Asclepius looked down on them and smiled ...

Author's notes -- FYI -- The Cercopes are actual characters in the Hercules mythos, described in my "Handbook of Classical Mythology" as "thievish and dwarfish creatures who inhabited Lydia." Both Herodotus and Hesiod mention them, though in tantalizingly short fragments. In "Refiner's Fire", the gist of how Hercules describes his encounter with Passalus and Acmon are taken from the fragment of a comedic poem attributed to Hesiod. I diplomatically left out how they made Hercules laugh, since it didn't quite work with the H:TLJ concept of Hercules. The two Cercope brothers had been warned by their mother to beware of "Blackbottom". When Hercules captures them, he ties their feet to a pole, and carries them off, the pole over his shoulder, so their heads hang down behind him. In this position, the story says, their ... observations of Hercules make them realize that it was Hercules about whom they had been warned. Their jokes about his hairiness make Hercules laugh so much, he lets them go. LOL!

Naturally, the classical Hercules would have worn a short Greek kilt, with obviously the same underwear that Scotsmen wear under theirs. This not being the case in H:TLJ, I chose to leave the source of the Cercopes' jests out. It probably wouldn't be true even if our Herc wore a kilt ...

Ya think? ;)

-- Melisande, October 1998

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