The Bargain

"Daddy!  Daddy!  Look at Me!"

"Telemachus!  Come down from that tree this moment!"  Anya shouted to her eldest son.

"Come on, Honey," Iolaus said with at wink.  "Don't you know how many times I've been up a tree?"

Hercules let out a laugh as Anya frowned at her husband.  "Um..Iolaus," he said," I think it's a
given that you're always up a tree...up a creek, you get the picture."

"All right, all right.  Are we going to sit here and reminisce about all of my failings, or are we going to
get to taste this plump pheasant I caught?  Telemachus!  Come on down.  You're mother wants to wrap you
in lamb's wool.  There, are you happy?"  Even Iolaus grimaced at his slightly sarcastic tone.  He didn't
want to hurt his beloved for anything, but he had his own ideas about how a boy should be raised.

Anya bounced Michalous on her lap while she passed the quail smugly to her husband.  She loved these
little picnics they engaged in with their best friends.  It wasn't often that they could all get together
like this.  Hercules and Deianeira's children played happily even though Hercules oldest was slightly younger
than Telemachus.  Michalous was slightly younger than Ilea, and both families loved to play "what if" with their
futures.  Anya could almost picture the sweet little girl with golden curls standing before Hestia's altar with
her son.  She smiled as Michalous tried to gnaw on the leg bone when a shout broke into her sweet dreams.

"Daddy!  Telemachus  found some honey in that tree.  He says Aunt Anya can make some of those good
honey cakes with it." Klonus  and Aeson informed them.  They were slightly out of breath, but they rolled
and giggled at the prospect, totally ignoring the look of horror on the adults' faces.

"Iolaus!  Honey!   BEES!  Telemachus' reaction...."

Iolaus jumped up even before Anya could finish and ran to the tree.  Hercules was right behind him.
The fear flashed before him as he remembered the last time Telemachus was stung.  He'd never seen a
child get that sick from a single insect.

Deianeira grabbed Anya's arm before she could rush to him too and said desperately, "Anya!  The other children need to be safe
too.  Help me get them into the house."  Anya snatched up Michalous and grabbed Klonus by the arm.  Along with Deianeira  and
her two charges, Anya rushed into her home and shut the door safely behind them.  The minute the door was shut she paced frantically. Her friend took little Michalous from her and placed him on the floor with Ilea.  "Keep an eye on the little ones Klonus and Aeson. Anya, he's going to be fine.  I'm sure Hercules and Iolaus will get to him in time.  Let me fix you some tea."  Anya shuddered at the thought but simply nodded.

Meanwhile Iolaus made it to the tree when Telemachus proudly showed his piece  of honeycomb.  "Telemachus!
No!"  Iolaus scrambled up the tree faster than anything Hercules had seen before.  The hunter quickly snatched
the child up and dropped him to Herc below. "Herc!"  Telemachus didn't know whether or not to laugh or cry
because the drop had  frightened and thrilled him at the same time.  He looked up at his father, thinking that
he'd see that smiling face that made him feel so warm.  But Tele was shocked to see the look
of fear on his daddy's face.

As Iolaus was about to jump down, he heard an angry buzzing inside the hollow tree.  "Herc!  Run for it.
Get him inside before they get out."  Iolaus turned his back to the hole and blocked the exit, hoping the vest Anya made him would take the brunt of the damage...at least until his child was safe.

Hercules ran as quickly as he could and practically kicked in Iolaus' door.  Anya rushed to take Tele from the hero, and with a mother's concern checked him out from head to toe.

"Mother!  I'm fine, and no, nothing stung me.  Daddy really surprised me with that drop though,
but it was fun.  I wonder if Uncle Herc wants to catch me again.  Uncle Her...," Tele started, but looked
confused when he saw Hercules dash back out the door.

Anya gently grabbed Telemachus by the shoulders and asked, "Where's you father?"

"Um..see he was up in the tree, and he yelled at Uncle Herc to run.  Whew!  What a ride!  Hey Klonus
you never told me your dad could run that fast.  You should have seen it Mom," Telemachus said  to his shaking mother.

"Tele, go play with Klonus and Aeson and help them watch the little ones," Deianeira said gently.  She turned
back to her friend.  "He's okay,Anya.  Iolaus is a very clever man; I'm sure he got down just fine.
I know you want to go to him, but it might not be safe out there yet. Trust him, Anya."

Just then Hercules rushed in carrying Iolaus.  The hunter was sweating, pale, and just this side of conscious.
Anya nearly screamed when she saw him. The pallor was nothing compared to his ragged breathing.
Herc placed him face down on his bed and carefully peeled back the vest.  While the vest did block some
of the stingers, it was horribly obvious that it would not be enough.  Anya covered him when the
tremors started. Hercules rushed out to retrieve the healer.

Tears flowed freely from  Anya's face when Iolaus turned to her and grasped her hand.
"Don't, Beloved.  I'll be fine.  Just a little bee sting." That only caused her sobbing to increase.
Deianeira had tried to keep the children from the room, but the adults were scaring them.
Klonus and Aeson frowned to see their mother on the brink of tears, and the babies were beginning to cry too.

Telemachus stood in the doorway and gasped at what happened.  "It's my fault, isn't it Mommy?"
he asked shakily.  Anya turned to him, but in her sobbing she couldn't say anything.  He almost turned to
run from the house, when he saw her hand stretched out to him.

"No, sweetheart, you didn't cause this.  It was just an accident.  Don't worry, Daddy will be just fine,"
she said hopefully through her tears.

"Hey, big guy, listen to your mother," Iolaus struggled.  "She's the smart one of the family."
He grinned weakly as he slipped from consciousness.

Anya pulled Tele into a hug, but she never let go of Iolaus' hand.  Hercules burst into the room practically
dragging Harmaxis to Iolaus' bedside.

"Everyone out.  If I'm going to help this man, I need to concentrate.  Hercules, not you.  I may need you
to make a poultice with this salve," the healer groused.  At first, it looked as though Mother and Son
had no intention of leaving the most important person in their lives with Harmaxis, but Hercules' nod to
them gave them hope, and they sullenly left the room.  "Does she have a mortar and pestle?  Good,
then you can go ground this calendula with some olive oil.  That should help somewhat, but I have to
tell you, Hercules.  It doesn't look good.  The sheer number of stings this man took to his back is
unfathomable.  Don't just stand there listening to me ramble; go take careof that salve while I try
to get these stingers out of his back.

When Hercules went into the kitchen, he was shocked to hear how quiet it was.  Anya walked in silently
and sighed, "Deianeira took the children with her.  She's already sent word for Alcmene to come.
I...I don't know how to reach Iolaus' mother.  Oh Hercules, I can't lose him!" she cried
covering her face with her hands.  Hercules stopped the grinding for a moment and pulled her up to his arms.

"Sh...sh, I know.  I'm scared too, but Iolaus is strong, and we have a really good healer in there
with him.  He helped Klonus last year with that fever when everyone else had given up.  As far as his mother
is concerned, I really don't know where she is either, but I do know that my mother
thinks of him as another son, and she's been a good surrogate mother for him as well.  Now," he said as
he sat her gently back into the chair," I've
got to get this in there."

Hercules also carried a bowl of clean water, a cloth, and bandages.  The healer smiled, "Ah, not just
the son of a god, but a mind reader as well. You could make a killing as a fortune teller, Hercules.  Now
help me get him cleaned up; I think I've gotten all of the little demons out of his back."
The healer tenderly washed Iolaus' back and spread the salve over the countless puncture wounds.
 Hercules helped lifted his friend while Harmaxis wrapped the bandages around his torso.  "Now, you can fix
this tea for him for fever, and for the convulsions; don't look at me that way Hercules.  It's just a precaution."

Anya came to the door with another bowl of water, "I'd...I'd feel better if I could just do something.
Hercules, help me get him undressed, and I'll try to cool him off.  Would that help, Harmaxis?"

"Well, I'd say it couldn't hurt.  It might make him a bit more comfortable, and that cool water might
also bring his fever down.  Anya, take care, I'll be back in the morning," Harmaxis said with a small smile.

Hercules stepped out of the room for a moment and grabbed the healer by the arm, "Thanks, Harmaxis."

"Well, it gives the wife something to do.  As far as really helping him, Hercules, I hate to say this,
but I'm sorry, there's nothing more I can do.  It's up to the gods now," he said sadly as he left the small cottage.

Hercules helped Anya get Iolaus settled and then walked out to the tree that was responsible.
"Father, father, please help me.  I can't handle this if Iolaus dies.  You saw me last time; it ripped
my heart out.  Please help."  When Zeus didn't answer, Hercules sighed, "It figures."  He walked
back to the house and sat on the porch.  Suddenly a fuzzy haze descended on him, and he was surrounded
by three ladies. " Lachesis, Clotho,and Atropos!  What are you doing here?"  He stared dully at the bright
thread in their hands.

"Zeus has heard your cry, Hercules.  We're prepared to offer you a deal.  You see, Iolaus'
life thread is strange indeed.  Not many are like it; seethis point looks like it had been cut and
then grew back together, " Lachesis said.

"Ah, but here's another, and as carefully as I spin these for the great Tapestry,
Iolaus' thread seems riddled with knots, turns, and splices.  Tell me,Hercules, how can that be?"
 Clotho asked curiously.

"The point is Hercules, that we've been sent to offer you a deal...a bargain, if you will.  I will put
away my scissors where he's concerned at the moment.."Atropos began.

"But...I hear a huge but right there," Hercules observed.

"Ah yes, but you are a son of a god.  Well, a life is demanded, and so we've come to offer to snip another
life instead of Iolaus'.  Before you ask, noit can't be yours.  It has to be someone else who is important to
Iolaus...a wife, a child...don't look at me that way I don't make up the rules," complained Atropos.

"How can you ask me to make that decision?    If he ever knew I'd even considered something like that,
our friendship would be over," Hercules cried. "I can't bear to lose him, but if you're asking me to sacrifice
one of those others, you're crazy.  I can't...I just can't."

"But I can," came a soft whisper in the night.  Anya stood in the doorway looking at the scene.

"How can she see and hear you?" Hercules spun around and asked Clotho.

"Well, it does involve her too, you know.  Come child, would you really sacrifice yourself or your children
for this man?  Iolaus must be a special creation,"Lachesis remarked.

"Yes, he is, and Hercules, you and the children need him  Don't ask me to lose him or one of my children.
 Would I ever see them again?" she asked tearfully.

"Of course, you've guaranteed yourself a place in Elysian Fields.  You'd see them all again...sometime,"
replied Atropos.  "Are you sure of your decision, Anya?"

Anya hesitated for a moment, "Could I ask one thing?  Could I just have three more months with them?
I..need to say good-bye properly, and Michalous first birthday is coming up, and our anniversary...I
know, you're being generous enough to spare his life, but could you please..."

Hercules couldn't believe what he was hearing.  Horrified at this bargaining, yet he was pleased
deep down inside that he wouldn't lose his friend.  He looked to the Fates to see if they would grant
her this one thing.  Each woman turned to the others and nodded.  Hercules felt tears falling down his face as
they disappeared.  "Are you sure that was the best thing to do, Anya?" He asked quietly.

Her tear-stained face turned to him, but he was surprised to see a smile on her face.
"It was the only thing to do, Hercules.  My children will grow upwith their father, and one day,
we'll all be together again.  Don't look so sad; I'm relying on you to give him the support he'll need in
a few short months.  Come let's go see the miracle."

They tiptoed back into the room to see Iolaus resting quietly with no sign of fever or strangling breaths.
Hercules excused himself and let Anya begin her short days with him.
 

Iolaus knelt at a newly hewn marker and wept bitterly.  His friend knelt beside him and laid a comforting
hand on his shoulder. Hercules looked back at his wife and mother and nodded.  Alcmene and Deianeira took the
crying children back into the house so their father could grieve properly.

"I don't understand, " Iolaus gasped.  "It just started out as hives....just some reaction to the figs she ate.
How could she die from eating that, Hercules?  I just don't understand. How?  How?"

"I don't know, " Hercules lied. He remembered the look on her face when she remembered the date
as she swallowed the fig.

Smiling sweetly, she had said, "It's a sweet way to do this, you know."

"How, Hercules? How?" Iolaus laid his head on the marker and sobbed more.

Hercules got up and walked slowly into the house.  "Well," he thought, "at least he has his children.
I promise you, Anya, we'll help him raise them.  They'll grow strong, healthy, and wise.  You haven't
made the sacrifice for nothing."
 

Zeus appeared and smiled, "And how exactly am I, Lachesis?"

Clotho nudged her sister and began, "Okay, Zeus...mighty father of the universe and all
that stuff, we want to know what this latest order is. You can't possibly mean to do this to that poor man.
I thought you liked Iolaus.  Please don't take them away."

Zeus looked to Atropos, "And you, sweet shearer, do you agree with this whining?"

Atropos measured her words well,   "Not that I question you, but how will taking his children from him
benefit mankind?"

"Mankind?  No, that wouldn't benefit mankind.  My son, now....that's another story.  You see, if Iolaus is
home taking care of children, how can he watch my son's back when I can't?  They'll be with their mother
in Elysian Fields anyway, but Hercules won't last without Iolaus.  Trust me, I know.  So, just do it okay?!"
Zeus said forcefully.

Atropos looked at him and said, "Give him three years...just three years."  When Zeus frowned and shook
his head, Atropos sighed and said, "How about one.  Just one little year, and I'm sure you can protect your
son in the course of one year.  You ARE the mighty father of the universe, after all."

Zeus grinned and said, "Okay, you have yourself a bargain.  One year, but no more."

Atropos looked at her scissors and muttered, "A bargain, whatever."