The shiver shimmied through his body like a harem girl at a bachelor party. "This is impossible!" he groaned as he trudged through the cold wet grass. "Snow? Snow is falling a week from the vernal equinox?" Iolaus shook his head and grumbled more about some god that must be laughing at him.

As the snow began approaching blizzard stage, the hunter decided to pick up his pace. After all, he'd promised to get to Kora's tavern by sunset, and she was definitely not one to keep waiting. Iolaus practically jumped out of his skin when he received the scroll requesting his help to shut down the tavern.

Iolaus was very annoyed at all the distractions that kept getting in his way. He'd already chased off three bands of thieves before the freak storm. Now the weather was beginning to slow him down as well. However, this was a much harder foe to defeat. He couldn't very well punch out a snowflake. This was one time he really didn't want to mess up. She really needed him now. He was glad Kora was taking a break, but secretly he wondered about how the cadets would survive without the warm atmosphere she created at the tavern.

 Iolaus shook his head violently as he muttered, "What am I thinking?! I need some of that warmth right now to really survive. Okay, Iolaus, now's the time to picture that fire, that brilliant smile...that incredible heat...Iolaus! It's too cold to be thinking like *that*!"

He began to feel concerned when the wind began to pick up. The tempest was blowing so hard, the afghan seemed to have sprung a million leaks. "Still," he reasoned, "it's better than only wearing this linen vest."

However, concern gave way to worry as the blizzard ebbed and flowed around him. He could feel his feet beginning to get wet as the snow piled higher and higher. This fully saturated his boots. The icy pain was relentless as he slogged through it all.

He struggled to keep his head and torso both covered, but Iolaus managed to do it. He unconsciously gathered it closer around his head and over his face until he only had a small hole to peek through. "Oh gods!" Iolaus gasped as he stumbled. "Forget about concern and worry. I've just moved into panic. All this white. I can't even see where I'm going; I feel like I'm inhaling needles, and I seem to have gone from graceful to klutz in one fell swoop. If only I were a little closer to Kora's..."

Suddenly he stumbled again, but this time he tumbled down a small hill into a trench. He tried immediately to climb out, but it was chest deep, and the snow was too soft to get any kind of foothold. He'd also come to the sad realization that he was quickly losing feeling in his feet. So, with regret, the brave hunter sank into the suffocating brightness and hoped that Kora, Hercules, or some child would not be the one to find his body.

Artemis appeared to see one of her favorite mortals collapse. She stretched out her hands to bring him safety and warmth, but no energy erupted from her fingers. Illumination flooded her countenance. She vanished suddenly, but then reappeared to grab his afghan from the top of the road, and she gave him what little protection she could from the cold.

Jason rode through the blinding storm. His horse, somehow, never faltered.  At t he crossroads, the king looked nostalgically down the road that lead to his youth, Chiron's Academy. The thought of those wild years blossomed a smile that threatened to crack his face in this bitter cold. Then he looked down the road that would one day hopefully lead to his future, Thebes. Alcmene was there, and he was desperate to make sure she was okay. "Okay, okay, I know this is irrational. Hercules, or even Iolaus, are most probably watching out for her. But this feeling I have far outweighs any measure of reasonableness. Still the question is, what would Hercules say if he knew how I really want to keep his mother warm?" he laughed through the cold.

Jason gently nudged the horse forward, but the strong animal stood firmly in his tracks. "Come on, Diomedes! Do you want us both to look like Medusa had gotten to us? Let's go!" Suddenly the mortal saw what the horse had seen all along. Artemis stood before him with outstretched arms. Jason took  a painfully deep breath and tried to remember to release it.

"King! Travel not the road you planned. A friend is in deeper need down the other. If you do not go quickly, Iolaus will die. The mother of Hercules is well protected; however, his brother of the heart lies freezing to death in a deep trench. Quickly, mortal, before another of Hercules' family resides on the Other Side!" she exclaimed ominously before vanishing.

Without even a second thought, Jason released control of Diomedes, and the steed raced along the golden trail. The horse halted as the trail ended, and Jason scrambled off his mount and looked frantically down the trench. He cursed the cold and the blinding white surrounding him but continued to scan the trench. Finally, he saw it...just a bit of blue wool. He knew that was where Iolaus was. Quickly the king looked for some kind of vine to use as a rope when a golden lasso appeared at his feet. He rapidly tied one end to his saddle and the other around his waist, all the while issuing a prayer of thanksgiving to Artemis. If his friend survived, he vowed to build a temple to her in Corinth. He was sure Aphrodite wouldn't mind. He was down in the trench as quick as a heartbeat. Jason pushed the snow away from his friend and cringed to see how deep the trench was. When he finally got the rope around him, the king became frightened to see how blue Iolaus' lips were. Wrapping the afghan more closely around the hunter, Jason slung him over his shoulder and signaled for Diomedes to back up.

The king's determined strength, combined with the horse's, managed to get them back to the top of the road. Jason held onto Iolaus and gently placed him across his horse. After climbing up, Jason maneuvered him into the saddle in front of him and apologized for the uncomfortable ride, an apology Iolaus never heard. At first, Jason struggled as to where to take him. The academy would have a healer, but Kora's was much closer. Somehow, Jason knew that Kora's was the right choice. He only hoped that Artemis was behind his foresight.

Kora had put away the last of the crockery and bolted the door. It was a little earlier than she usually closed, but with this weather, she could be guaranteed not to have any more customers. She started to reach for another log to put on the hearth when she was surrounded by a brilliant light. Immediately, she knelt with her hands outstretched and head bowed in a picture of subservience.

"What is your wish, M'lady?"whispered Kora softly.

"Kora, you've long paid your debt to me. Rise, I need you to prepare for Iolaus..."

"I'm prepared for him already, Artemis. He's going to help me shut down the tavern for a bit; however, I thought about asking him to run it for me for a month while I am on my pilgrimage. Though with this weather, I would be safe to assume , I won't have any business anyway. I'm not even sure if it would be safe to travel any...."

"Kora!" the goddess interrupted. " He may have a permanent rest if you don't stop babbling. King Jason travels here with my Golden Hunter. He will require your herbs, a warm bed and some food that would warm him from the inside out. Perhaps he will live then."

Kora stumbled back and sank to her knees again. "Oh, great goddess, is there nothing you can do to help him. He has served and honored you well all these years. Couldn't you just heal him?"

"I'm afraid not, child. This is Demurrer's doing, and I'm forbidden to help even the least of my creatures, let alone my favorite. It will be up to you and Jason to bring him back to health. If that is even possible...," she sighed as she vanished once again.

Kora immediately set about preparing her famous boar stew. "That's his favorite, you know," came a voice near the hearth. As Kora jumped, the kindly plump white haired lady rushed to her side and calmed her with a simple touch on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, young lady. I didn't mean to startle you. I just thought you could use some help. You see, I have a fondness in my heart for him. His mother always served me well."

"You're...." she stared with her mouth gaped open.

"Hestia, dear. About your stew, you know that it started him on a lifelong love of the stuff. I believe he quested from one tavern to the next in order to find one that could even come close to yours. Between that and rabbit, it's a good thing that Zeus created an abundance of those creatures, or Iolaus never would have survived. And speaking of surviving, I think you should go back to the stew, and I'll just.."

"Wait! I thought you couldn't help Iolaus," she said to the genuinely friendly goddess.

"Well," she said with a twinkle in her eyes," technically, I can't. However, I *can* help you. I'll get the bed ready. Oh dear! You only have one, don't you?"

"Bed? Well, M'Lady, I do not run an inn, just a simple tavern. But you can make mine ready for him. I'll sleep on one of the banquet couches."

"Oh no that will never do. First of all, Iolaus even through this illness, would not rest peacefully knowing he took your bed. Secondly, your bed is too far from the hearth. This, on the other hand, would be perfect." Hestia said with a grin. With a wave of her bounteous arm, a magnificent bed appeared in front of the hearth. It was of a wood imported from the colonies. It had a deep wine color, and the bed had the most wondrously intricate mother-of-pearl woodland creatures inlaid in the headboard. It had a soft railing covered in silk. The mattress looked thick and warm as it was piled layer upon layer with soft fluffy green coverlets made also of silk. The pillows were stuffed with the finest peacock down. "What the old bag doesn't know won't hurt her. So what if her pets have bald butts for a while. It's for a worthy cause, and it will drive her crazy," Hestia giggled.

"It's beautiful and warm too. I know he'll love it!" Kora said as she put the last of the carrots in the stew and the bread in the oven. "Now," she sighed, "all we have to do is ...wait." Hestia heard her heart breaking and appeared at her side to offer comfort. "How do you do this? I feel like I'm with my mother again."

"Here, little one," Hestia said as she wiped away Kora's tears. "Don't you know every mother carries a bit of my spirit in her. Now, let's be brave. I hear them coming; have you set the kettle on for the tea? They'll both need it."

Kora blinked back her tears and got busy. Suddenly the door flew open to reveal an exhausted Jason with a very still Iolaus slung over his shoulder. "Knew you'd be ready to help," he gasped out. "Not sure how I knew, but here we...." With that, the king collapsed with his charge with his last conscious thought wondering how Kora's floor suddenly felt like a down pillow. He didn't see the plump woman in the corner jumping into action.

When Jason awoke, he was swaddled in soft blankets and propped on a banquet couch. He sat up quickly, looking desperately for Iolaus. When he saw him in the blankets , just looking like he was as snug as he'd ever seen him, the king couldn't resist a smile. Kora walked up to Jason and gave him some hot spiced cider. "I'm fooling myself, aren't I? He isn't just resting peacefully is he?" sighed the former Argonaut.

Kora choked back her own sobs, "No, Jason, he isn't just taking a nap. He's unconscious. Oh Jason!" He was up with his arms around her as she buried her face into his chest. Feeling a slight breeze, Jason was only vaguely wondering why he was wearing a short chiton. Jason held onto the distressed woman.

"Sh...,He's bound to be all right, Kora. With Artemis on his side.."

"And Hestia," she mumbled into his chest.

"How did you make such good connections, Iolaus," Jason said softly as he turned toward the hunter in the huge bed. "Why are we worried? They'll just heal him, won't they? Well...won't they?" He asked anxiously.

Hestia and Artemis appeared at the side of Iolaus' bed. "We can't," the goddess of the hunt said sadly. "Has he regained consciousness, yet?" When Kora shook her head, Hestia sat down on the bed and smoothed one errant curl away from the injured man's face.  "Hestia says you have some stew going. We're going to try and bring him around. Please make sure his tray is ready. We might not be able to keep him awake for very long. Afterward, well.." Artemis stopped and looked at her hunter.

"We'll inform you of the extent of his injuries, what must be done, and what may have to be done," Hestia said stoically.

"Hestia, what do you mean?  What's this about what must be done," Kora asked softly as she  walked  kitchen to the spooned the hot stew into a bowl.  She busied herself in there while she waited nervously to hear the consequence dealt him for helping her out.

Hestia looked to Artemis, and they both looked to Jason.  "You know, don't you, King?"  Jason nodded his head.  "And so will you be able to do what is necessary when the time comes?  Are you familiar with the technique that causes the least amount of pain?"

"I'm familiar with what must be done.  Though, I've never actually done it myself, if that's what he needs to survive, then so be it.  He can curse me later," he said bravely with a hint of sadness in his voice. "At least he'll be able to do that even if he can't....Have you looked?  Are you sure?"

Artemis shook her head, "We want him to warm up first.  Kora, hurry up with the stew!"  Artemis was growing impatient. Part of her wanted to just do it and get it over with.  Another part knew ithis cure  would destroy her Golden Hunter's spirit.

"You still haven't answered my question," stated Kora as she carried a tray with stew, a slice of warm bread, and
a mug of warm spiced cider.  "What are you planning on doing?"

Hestia took the cider from the tray and drank it herself.  "Sorry child, no alcohol for Iolaus until he's better.  Do you have some...water?"  Kora nodded and motioned for Jason to replace the mug.  "Come, Dear, no crying.  You'll be seasoning the stew with your tears if you don't watch out. Kora sat the tray on the table next to the bed
and looked at the pale man lying on the luxurious bed.  It was almost absurd to see such frailty in one so boisterous. "Yes, Kora, it is odd to see him this way.  I don't believe even his Mother has ever seen him so still.  The only other time was when the SheDemon...," Hestia stopped as she considered that the  result of his current position could ultimately end the same way.
Artemis slid behind the hunter and lifted his shoulders effortlessly.  Jason helped hold his head while Hestia
dribbled the broth from the stew across his chapped lips. Iolaus moaned and tried to turn away.
Kora sat down gently on the bed and reached under the covers to hold his hands.  Hestia almost dropped
the stew trying to stop her.  "No, Kora!  Let me get this into him first before you touch his hands."  Kora
jerked back as if her fingers were burned and looked confused.  She quietly sat there watching the unconscious
man take in the broth.

A sad smile crossed her lips, and she shook her head as she absently remarked, "I always told him I thought
he could eat in his sleep."  The other three grinned as Iolaus' pink tongue snaked out to catch a drop.

"Can't help it if you're a great cook," whispered Iolaus hoarsely. Artemis tightened her grip around his chest, and Jason fought back his own emotions as those crystal blue eyes fluttered open.  Iolaus groaned and tried to sit up.  "Come on, you guys," he started.

Jason laughed, "Only you, Iolaus, would call two of the major goddesses 'you guys' and get away with it.  Just  lay back and enjoy it."

"S'one of my lines," Iolaus slurred as Hestia slipped him more stew.  One warning look in her gentle eyes, and Iolaus knew he'd better shut up and eat. As he became more and more conscious, Iolaus' injuries began to make themselves known, and the hunter could barely
bluff his way out of the concerned looks.  He finally finished what he could of the stew and looked up into Artemis' eyes.  "Um, could you do something about...you know....pain?"

Artemis winced for she knew what it took for the young man to ask such a thing.  She sighed as she explained their general impotence in the situation.  "This is Demeter's doing, and that makes any divine healing  off limits. But don't worry, we're doing everything humanly
possible.  Now, Iolaus, we're going to have to take a look at the...damage.  Hestia has some herbs that will take the edge off, but this is really necessary."  Iolaus noted the grave expression on the goddess'  face and nodded sadly.  First he pulled his hands out from the covers and let them inspect them.  "Well, somewhat waxy looking, but the blistering is minimal.  You must have had them wrapped pretty tightly inside that afghan. Okay, these will heal on their own.  You'll just have to let us all help you for a bit," Artemis grinned and winked at the blushing hunter.  "Get your mind out of the gutter, Iolaus.  I was only talking about helping you with your food and drink.  Give him the herbs,
Hestia.  Perhaps the foul taste of them will keep him from blushing."  She and Hestia laughed and watched Kora and Jason grin at each other.

Jason grabbed her hand as Hestia began to lift the covers to expose his feet. Iolaus frown in mock indignation.  "No fair!  You wouldn't let her hold my hand, but you let her touch Jason's?  I've been robbed!"  Iolaus knew the difficult task ahead and was just trying to lighten the mood.  He could barely stand the thought of what might be ahead of him, but the thought of his friends' pity, reaction, sympathy...he wasn't sure which, but the thought almost turned his stomach. He was no coward; however the reality of his situation terrified him.  As the goddess lifted the
coverlet, Iolaus chose not to look.  After all, if he looked, it would be real.  He made a larger error. As he feared, his own anticipated horror was reflected in his friends' faces.  A silent tear, eyes shuttered at the obscenity of his injury, quiet gasps, all served to destroy his sanctuary of
denial.  And so he looked.

He felt his heart quicken as his worst fear came to fruition.  The waxy skin, blistering, flesh already dead and blossoming black spoke testament to the only diagnosis.  He looked again as Kora sobbed quietly in Jason's arms.  His eyes and Jason's locked.  The only solution would alter his world forever.

"Iolaus, I wish I could..."  Artemis began.  He just shook his head gently

"I understand.  Look, could I just have a few moments alone before you have to..."Iolaus stopped as he felt his throat closing up.

"Sure, buddy.  Ladies, let's get what we need," he sighed.  "Anything else, Iolaus?"

"Well, I know ale is out of the question...wine?"  The others looked warily at him; so, he continued.  "Come on, guys.  You could really water it down.  I just need..."

"Okay, a little watered down wine won't hurt anything," smiled Hestia as she patted his shoulder.  " You do know that if I could change this, I would, don't you?"

"I know.  Thanks for all you've done now.  I need to ask you one more thing.  Jason, I know you'll make this as swift and painless as possible, but I want to make sure that everyone here knows.  I want no pity from any of you.  I'm going to be battling my own for a while.  I'll appreciate your help and support, but remember, Herc's gonna need it too.  He's kinda gotten used to me watching his back.  And now...," the hunter took
a deep breath and then sighed, "now that I won't be there, he might...You know, with no one to watch his back and all."  He blinked hard to stay the flood approaching.  His friends just nodded sadly and gave him his space.

Iolaus stared into the fire and spoke softly, "This isn't the way we thought this would end, is it, Buddy? I always thought I'd 'buy it' in some epic sword fight or battling some monster.  Little did I know that I'd be chopped away bit-by-bit.  Boy! Herc, this changes everything.  Who knows what I'll be doing in the future...selling styluses, begging for food, or living with my mother.  Well, guess you don't have to worry about me chasing the wrong woman anymore..or *chasing* anything for that matter." He sighed deeply as he felt wetness burning against his cheeks.  Pain filled
fingers wiped them from his face as he continued, "Just look at the mighty Iolaus now, crippled and crying. How the mighty have fallen.  So much for the *Golden Hunter* now!"

"There is another solution, you know, " hissed a dark voice.

Iolaus snapped his head around to see Ares leaning on the headboard of the bed with a steaming cup.  "Great! Just Great! Can't a man
wallow around in his own self-pity without interruption."

"Oh sure, a man can, but aren't you about to become half-a-man?  I'm offering you a way out of this.  I have help for you in this mug."  he sneered.

"Liar!  Get away from me.  I already know that this is Demeter's doing, and you can't help even if you wanted too!" snapped the hero.

"Oh no!  You misunderstand me, little man.  This is a cure in only one sense of the word.  One drink will find you whole," Ares whispered. Iolaus tried not to feel hopeful, but a cure from a demon was at least a cure.  "Yes, Iolaus, you'd be whole...in Hades'  realm,  that
is!"  His maniacal laughter only served to crush Iolaus more.

"Thanks, but no thanks," he grumbled to the god.

"Take a moment to consider my offer.  Once this is done, you're useless.  Just another piece of worthless humanity, begging from one corner to the next."

"I'll never beg."

"Well, tell me, what exactly can a footless ex-hero do with the rest of his life?   Oh, you plan to hobble after my half-brother?  Please!" he said in disgust.  "He'll be so worried about you, he'll neglect his 'legendary journeys' to babysit you for the remainder of your days.  You can forget
him ever having a family to take care of because you'll be the one he has to protect.  You really want to do that to your best friend..'brother of the heart' I believe you call him?  You'll just be Poor Iolaus from now on."

"N-no I would..never...Maybe I.."

"What?  Think you could find a woman of your own?  How would you ever know if she loves you or is just pitying you?  This is if you could get a woman dedicated enough to supply income, take care of a home, and damaged goods.  Oh...surely you're not thinking
that sweet little mortal?" His laughter this time got the attention of Hestia, and she popped to Iolaus' side.  Ares disappeared, leaving the mug of hemlock  in Iolaus' hand.

"I...I wasn't going to," he said defiantly.  "I'd never planned to...But you have to admit, his solution would have solved a lot of people's problems here, not just mine.  His solution might be considerably better than the alternative I face once Jason gets
his sword out.  Look, from here on out, I won't be your Golden Hunter, Artemis.  I won't be having a hearth and family, Hestia.  I can't fight at your side, Jason, and Kora..Kora, I'll be more of a hindrance than a help to you.  Of course, I always was, wasn't I?"  Kora
moved to lay a gentle hand on his shoulder.  Iolaus closed his eyes and held up one aching hand and continued, "No..It's okay.  It was a tempting idea, but it's also the coward's way out, and while I'll not be a hero anymore, I refuse to go out as a coward!"
he said vehemently.  "Jason, I'm ready."

"No, you're not," sighed Artemis.  "Drink this first.  You'll need to be able to take the edge off the pain.

Iolaus nodded and drank the bitter liquid down.  "Gods, Artemis!  You could at least saved back some of the wine before fouling it with those herbs.  Bad tasting medicine must run in the family," he shuddered.  In no time he was feeling drowsy.  He never even
felt them lift him to a table.

Hestia shook her head despairingly and whispered, "Just above both ankles, Jason.  You can't see the dead tissue like I can.  Kora, help us hold him down.  He's liable to revive at the pain once we cauterize..Wait!"  Hestia disappeared, and when she was once again with them, she held a sword out to Jason.  "Hephaestus promised me this was sharper than any sword forged by man.  Iolaus will
hardly feel it even as it cuts through the bone."

The king nodded and replied, "Too bad that won't be true of the cauterizing. Jason took a deep breath and looked at the sword.  It felt light, but the king wasn't fooled by its easy handling.  He knew if Hephaestus made it, it could cut through steel as though
it was butter.  He raised it with a slight tremble but managed to steady himself with a little help from Artemis.  He let the blade come down with strength and accuracy, and the deed was almost done.  Artemis held the blade to the fire as Jason scooped up the dead limbs and wrapped then in a blanket held by Hestia.  He appeared very business like, but inside he was trembling and agonizing over his friend's pain and depression that was bound to set in. He'd tended to wounded in too many battles to not know the outcome of the
scarred warriors.  How many times had he seen them sitting in the shade of the castle walls begging?  He took part of his friend to bury by the tree where they used to sit and dream

She almost jumped when she felt Jason's hand on her shoulder.  "With his friends watching his back, that's how he'll do it.  Iolaus
is strong, Kora.  Even with all the conniving as a youth, he always had a certain strength of character," Jason laughed softly.  "An
ex-thief with strength of character...who would have imagined when the magistrate gave him a chance, the hero would be released.

Kora reached out and laid a hand on her patient's shoulder as he began to awaken.  She called for Artemis as he
began moaning and thrashing about.  Suddenly he began screaming as his eyes flew open.  "My toes!  Gods, their cramping.  Don't
just stand there Jason, push against them.  By Zeus, somebody help me out here!"

Jason grasped his shoulders and tried to still him as the hunter continued to rant irrationally about his toes.  "Iolaus!" Jason
shouted back at him.  All the thrashing about was bound to open the sutures.  "Iolaus!  You don't even have toes anymore!"
Jason wanted to bite his traitorous tongue for its cruelty.  Iolaus became instantly still and looked in Jason's eyes.

"Oh gods!  What have you done to me?  What have you done?" he gasped before passing out.  Artemis looked at the
grief stricken king and disappeared.

Hestia hugged Jason and softly replied, "It was the only thing you could have done, young
king.  He's speaking through the delirium and pain right now.  So, stop wrapping up in your guilt like a well worn blanket.

Jason nodded and walked over to the window.  "What causes the gods to turn so against mankind, Hestia?  Artemis already
said this has nothing to do with us.  Yet we suffer.  I mean no disrespect, Great Lady, but right now this snow and ice is a
reflection of how my heart feels toward Olympus."  Kora stood next to him and leaned her head against his back.

"Punish us not, Dear Lady, for our grieving," she whispered.

Hestia replaced the sweat soaked blanket with a new one and sighed, "Children, I, myself, do not understand the workings
of my family.  Demeter is feeling great loss; therefore, everyone must feel her loss first hand.  As suddenly as the
snow and ice came, it departed.  In its place birds sang, flowers bloomed, and gentle breezes caressed the soft
new grass.  As the goddess walked toward the window and looked out, she nodded, "See, my children, all is as it should
be now."

"Except Iolaus," mumbled Jason.

"Yes, I'm afraid that is so," she agreed.
 

As the days turned into a week, and  he fully  regained consciousness, Iolaus was much more reserved.  His fever had finally broken, and in spite of his great pain ghosting his body, there was no more screaming.  He quietly grimaced through his agony.  Kora and
Hestia eased him into a sitting position and tried to keep him occupied.  They didn't succeed for they would catch him
staring absently at the stumps left behind.  Hestia finally returned to Olympus to take care of her own duties, and to seek out
Artemis.

As his hands healed quickly he continually pleaded  with Kora to let him help in some way.  After all, before Hestia left, she'd created
a kind of cart that he could wheel himself around in.  Jason helped him that second week, but Iolaus made him return to Corinth.
"Your people need you to help them recover after all of this.  Two weeks is plenty of vacation time for a king.  Go, I'll be fine,"
he stated.

"Iolaus, I hope someday you'll be able to forgive m-me," the eloquent king stumbled as his guilt continued to trip him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!  forgive you for what exactly?  Forgive you for finding me?  forgive you for saving my life?
Or forgive you for helping me adjust to this?  Just stop, Jason.  I asked you to do what you had to do.  You only did what
was required.  Understand?" he reassured Jason.

Jason nodded meekly, "I just wish.."

"Yeah, me too, Jas," the hunter said softly.  "Me too."

Another week had passed, and the tavern was once again open for business. Artemis had brought soft pelts to make a kind of boot that would protect his stumps, yet give him some sense of normalcy. One cadet after another recognized him and began asking questions.

"Aren't you Iolaus of Thebes?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thebes, Corinth, take your pick," he grumbled.

"But you are the friend of Hercules, right? You did get a chance to travel and watch the greatest hero who ever lived, didn't you?" the cadet asked a little too enthusiastically.

"Yeah, watched. I'm a regular spectator. Is there a point to this conversation, kid?" he sighed.

"I...no, I'm sorry to disturb you," he said quietly.

"You've got it all wrong, Slick. Iolaus didn't just travel with Hercules. He fought side by side with him," interrupted Kora. "Oh yes, I could tell you tales about the things this man has done that would curl your toes."

"Wow! Hey, Mister....Iolaus, would you tell us a story or two? Hey, were you there with the Hydra? I kinda remember old Feducius telling us that one. But, well..it was kind of dull," shrugged the Cateaus.

"Dull?! Dull?! Trust Feducius to make even a hydra appear dull. See, the way it really happened was...," Iolaus continued the story most enthusiastically. Kora smiled at the animated hero. She thought it was odd that even though he was confined to his spot near the hearth, he seemed to be everywhere at once. At the end of the tale, he was soundly applauded, and once disinterested students came to be on the edges of their seats pleading for one more story.

Kora finally coaxed the last of the cadets out of the tavern and was cleaning up. "Well now, Sir, it appears you've earned this." She took out a bag with 15 dinars in it.

"What's this?" he asked suspiciously.

"You, Iolaus, are a natural born storyteller. People all night long gave me dinars in appreciation for the entertainment," she beamed.

A great shadow clouded his face, "No thanks."

" What?"

"What would you have me do? Should I set out a cap on the street corner. Some pathetic old geezer retelling stories of past glory, is that how you see me? As I said, 'Thanks, but no thanks!' I refuse to be Iolaus the cripple poet!" he lifted himself off the stool by the hearth and into his cart. As he pushed off, Kora stopped him.

"Oh, so Homer is pathetic because he's blind? Tell me, Iolaus, at first, you were complaining that you had no useful place in society; now the Fates have chosen you to pass on great stories, histories, to young men and women who've only seen the stories as something to remember on an exam. Are you saying this is of less value than slaying a hydra? Help me out, Iolaus, because I was seeing this as a way you get to keep independent; this is the very opposite of begging," she sighed.

Hestia appeared, "gotta admit that I was even amused to hear how you and Hercules blasted Hera's monster. You've always been a sweet talker. Now it's time to put your mouth where the money is."

Iolaus blushed and ducked his head. "I'm sorry, Kora. I've been trying so hard not to be a burden on you that I almost missed a chance. Maybe the only chance I'll ever have at having a normal life," he whispered.

"Iolaus, you are no burden, but if you let your pride miss opportunities, you'll really end up as that pathetic old geezer you mentioned. I can't
let you do that to yourself," she said as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Kora, don't.  Maybe once upon a time I'd have welcomed, no reveled in your touch, but now.  Thanks anyway," he said as he removed her hand and kissed her palm.  "You're a good person, Kora.  You deserve so much."  Then he rolled back to the storage room which had become
his bedroom.

The shade of melancholy settled over the tavern like a too warm quilt.  "Don't take his mood too much to heart, Dear," Hestia said
as she laid her hand on Kora's shoulder.  "You've given him much to think about.  Let him rest on it now."

One night around the fire, Iolaus was telling the tragic tale of Deainira and the kids when he heard a voice in the doorway.  "They
send their love, Iolaus," grinned Hercules.  Iolaus' face froze as the moment he'd been dreading raced toward him.

"Herc, " he said simply.

"Trust you, Iolaus, to be resting comfortably here while I handled more of Hera's goons."  Iolaus watched in horror as the demigod
bounded over to him and grabbed his hand.  Everything seemed to slow down as Herc pulled on Iolaus' hand with his usual
strength.  Iolaus tried to resist the pull, but Hercules, being who he was, jerked him off the stool.  He wobbled for a second, thinking he would be
able to  gracefully plop back down on the seat.  However, Iolaus found himself fighting not only momentum, but white hot pain shot through
his still tender stumps, and Iolaus fell face down on the floor.

"Aw, Iolaus, quit clowning around.  We've got work to do, Buddy," the demigod laughed as he leaned over.  Iolaus didn't move at all, and
instantly the stunned crowned rushed to his side.  Kora ran out of the kitchen when she heard the commotion and gasped to see
Iolaus  being gently lifted from the floor by several cadets.  They rushed him to his room as Hercules stood perplexed in the center
of the tavern.

"Kora?" he asked.

"Not now, Hercules.  I need to see if he's okay.  Even if he's not hurt physically, this probably will set his depression back to the beginning!"
she groaned as she pushed her way through the crowd of concerned and curious tavern patrons.

Herc frowned at the depression remark and started to follow before being stopped by a furious young cadet.  "How could you do
that to him?  You, the 'mighty Hercules',  are suppose to be his best friend, and you just humiliate him like that?  Some *hero* you
are!" Cateaus shouted.

"What are you talking about?  How did?  Look, I just pulled him up like I have countless times.  He was just kidding around.  It's not
like he hasn't just laid there before.  It's for effect, and why am I explaining to some 'wet behind the ears' cadet any of my actions.
Everyone else is just overreacting to a well executed play for sympathy.  Trust me, I know Iolaus.  He's eating this thing up," he
grumbled.

"You don't sound like you know him at all.  He's a fiercely proud warrior who would never rely on anyone's sympathy or pity," the
cadet stated as he turned his back to the demigod.

Hercules grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.  "What do you mean pity?" he asked narrowing his eyes.

"By the gods, you don't know," he whispered.  "You don't know about his feet."  Hercules felt the sting of tears well up as
he listened in disbelief as the cadet spoke in hushed tones of Iolaus' struggle.  Cateaus watched as shock, sadness, and
guilt raced across the great hero's face.

"Iolaus, no," Hercules gasped as he looked toward the room.

Kora eased the other cadets out of his room, and gently shut the door.  "All right; he's okay.  Please go back to your tables.  He
just needs a little tea and a lot of rest.  As the crowd dispersed, Hercules headed for the door.  "Hercules, don't," she
said laying her hand on his arm.  "He doesn't want to see you now."

"Why not, Kora?  I'm his best friend," he winced.

"Hercules, you're also a reminder of what he was, what is now isn't, and what he will never be again.  This is very painful,
both physically and emotionally.  Give him some time to pull himself together," she sighed.

"When will that be, Kora?"  He asked still staring at the closed door.

"Do you have a room in town, Hercules?"  She asked.  when he nodded, she continued, "Come back tomorrow."

As he turned to leave, he saw Jason enter the tavern.  "Does he know?"

"Yes, Hercules, I know.  I'm the one who ," Jason stared at the crushed man standing before him.

"You, son of a," Hercules growled as he drew back and took a punch at Jason.  Jason just stood there staring at the fist that stopped inches
from his face.

"Go ahead.  I deserve this.  I took his feet, you might as well bloody my face.  If you don't punch too hard, I might be able to walk out
of here, but Iolaus never will.  That's my fault isn't it?  Well, isn't it?" the king yelled at Hercules.

"Stop!  Just stop!" sobbed as she ran back into the kitchen.

Hercules looked at his fist,  then at his friend's face, and spun around and pounded a table.  As the table split perfectly in two,
the other patrons made a mad dash for the door.  Only Cateaus stood shaking his head.  "I don't believe this.  Here
are two great 'heroes' of the academy.   The scrolls at the academy practically sing your praises.  All I can say is that
the king and the demigod pale in real life to the 'little thief' who only rates a small footnote in their histories.  Forgive my
disrespect, but you two make me sick!" he spat out as he left the tavern.

Hercules and Jason looked at each other and felt the shame of their actions.  "Jas, I'm sorry.  I just found out, and that's
no excuse, but I," he said breaking away to look at the broken table.

"I know, Herc.  It just makes me so mad, and I feel so guilty. I know, I know, he would have died otherwise, but I still feel
responsible for ruining his life," he sighed.

"It was my family.  Gods!  It's always my family," he groaned as he sat on the stool by the fire.  "If only I'd gone after
Persephone when Demeter first approached me, then maybe this wouldn't have happened.  This is all my fault.  Poor Iolaus"

"Gods, I hate being right," Ares sneered as he appeared in the room with the cup in his hand.

"What are you doing here," Iolaus mumbled bitterly.

"Oh, just thought I'd help you review your options,"  Ares smirked as he carefully waved the mug in Iolaus' face.  "Let's see...
You can go on telling the same tired stories, or put an end to this farce you call a life.  Think about it Iolaus.  Just what are
you going to do when you run out of first run stories?  Oh, wait.  I know!  You'll wait for Hercules to do the charitable thing
and come to visit you.  That way, he can tell you *his* stories.  And by then, I guess you'll be able to tell those.  Of course,
they'll all be hearsay, and you do know how dull Hercules can make any story sound.  Not much for embellishing is he?"
 

"All right, all right.  You've made your point; now get out of here!" he grimaced.  "But, Ares?"

"Yes," he hissed.

"Leave the mug on the night stand on your way out," Iolaus whispered as he turned onto his side.
Ares smiled at the request and promptly popped out after fulfilling it.

A soft knocking disturbed Iolaus mental tug-of-war, and he tried to burrow even farther down into the the blankets.  "Go
away," he called out.

"Iolaus?" softly called the demigod.  "I know Kora said this wasn't a good time, but I was out there, and suddenly all the
hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.  It almost felt like one of my family.."

"Oh yeah, Herc.  Your family just can't get enough of me, can they?  Just leave me alone, Hercules.  I can't do this right
now," he gasped.

"Oh, Iolaus.  I'm sorry.  If only I'd done what Demeter asked me from the beginning, if only I hadn't let my contempt for
the gods supersede helping others, then you wouldn't...Aw, Iolaus, I'm so sorry," Hercules cried softly.  Iolaus turned
to look at the dejected hero.  This guilt was eating his friend up, and Iolaus just couldn't stand by and let that happen.

"Look, I don't blame you, Herc," he began.  I'm just trying to make some decisions about my future, and."

Hercules walked over to his bed and plopped down heavily as huge sobs tore through his body.  He buried his
face in his hands and let his new found sorrow sweep through him.   Iolaus sat up and laid a tentative hand on
Herc's back.  But all that did was cause him to weep more.  In no time the half god began choking.  Iolaus started
patting him on the back, raising his arms above his head, anything he could remember to help his friend.

His heart froze a solidly as his feet had when he saw Hercules reach for the mug on the night stand.
"No!" he shouted and then knocked the mug clear across the room.  Between his heart pounding wildly and
his uncontrollable shaking, Iolaus collapsed back on the bed and wept himself.

Hercules stopped choking immediately as he witnessed his friend collapsing in on himself.  Then the light
dawned in his grief stricken brain.  "Iolaus, what was in the mug?  Iolaus?" he asked gently.

"Oh gods, Herc.  You don't want to know," he cried out.  Hercules turned to him and began rubbing small circles
on his back to calm him.  "Why is this so hard?" Iolaus said as his voice steadied.  "Ares, well he brought
a little solution to my problem."

With that bit of information, Hercules stopped rubbing as he felt rage, frustration and worry hit him full force.
He grabbed Iolaus by the shoulders and spun him around.  "I knew  I could feel his slimy presence.
Don't ever listen to him, Iolaus!  You know what he's like, and he'd do anything to hurt me.  This would just
about do it."  He hadn't realized that with every word, he was shaking Iolaus harder and harder.  Until
Iolaus took a swing and him and connected soundly on his best friend's jaw.

"Stop it!  First of all, I'd like to be able to remember a story or two to tell.  Secondly, Herc.  This is not about
you!  This is about Ares trying to ease my suffering, and don't even give me that look.  But I'd like to think
instead of trying to get to you, he was trying to eliminate a former warrior that gave him a little bit of trouble.
Or maybe he's showing me a little respect for what I used to be.  Now, I recognize this isn't exactly what's going
on, but please don't make me feel any more pathetic than I already do," he sighed.

"You're right.  I'm treating you like a cripple, and you are not...don't interrupt Iolaus.  You might not be able
to go into battle anymore, but you are the bravest man I've ever known.  I take that back, you're the
bravest man I've ever known that still has the strongest right hook in all of the known world," he said with a
grin.

"I think that's part of what I feared the most.  I didn't want your pity, just your respect.  If you saw me as some
pitiable ex-hero begging for bread, I don't think I could make it.  The Hemlock would have looked more
and more convincing.  Thanks, Buddy."  Iolaus put out his hand for a warrior's handshake, but he found
himself wrapped up in a big semi divine hug.
 

One particularly spectacular sunny day, Kora coaxed Jason, Hercules, and Iolaus into a picnic lunch.  Oddly,
Hercules chose the one spot no one dared mention.  Iolaus and Kora were teasing, flirting, and generally
playing off each other when they heard Jason clear his throat to get Hercules' attention.  The young king was
shaking his head frantically and frowning.  Hercules raised his hands and mouthed, "What?'

"It's all right Jason.  This is a perfect place to spend a perfect spring day.  It's weird, but sitting under this
tree almost makes me feel whole again," he said with a smile filled with irony.  When he looked to an utterly
confused Hercules, he even laughed tenderly. "Hercules, this is where my...where my feet are buried."

All of the blood drained from Herc's face as he put his hand out to lean on the tree.  "Oh, Zeus!  I had no idea.  Hey,
there's a good spot over by the stream.  It would be nicer there anyway," he said as he started to gather up
the picnic supplies.  Suddenly he felt a strong hand on his shoulder.  Turning around, he saw the kind eyes
of his Aunt Hestia smiling at him.

"Boy, you  never listen, do you?  It think your hearing is far from being demigodly," she laughed.  "Iolaus said he
liked this place. Let's picnic."

As Hercules reluctantly spread the blanket out, the conversation began again between Iolaus and Kora.  Jason
helped set up the picnic with Hestia.  Suddenly a blinding light flashed fiercely before them.  When they could
look again, they saw Artemis smiling broadly as she held someone else tightly by the arm.

"Demeter," growled Hercules.   "Fancy meeting you here at the scene of the crime.  You're not welcome here!"

"You heard the man, I'm taking my leave right now,"  she harrumphed.  However, Artemis only held on more
tightly.  "Okay, Okay.  Look, Iolaus, I have no idea how you can inspire such loyalty, and my sister and
niece have convinced me that perhaps I was a bit harsh with the no interference thing.  Anyway," she
began as she saw Iolaus' eyes grow  cold.  "take off your boots."

"What?  No way!  Don't look at me that way, most of you guys haven't seen what this really looks like.  Only
Kora knows first hand, and I'm not even pleased about that.  So, forget whatever humiliation-fest you have
planned for me now," he growled as he started scooting toward his cart.

Kora looked expectantly to Artemis, who only nodded.  "Iolaus, what can it hurt?  Come on, how many
times have you dreamed about me telling you to take off an article of clothing?"

Everyone held their breaths until they saw a sly smile creep across his face.  "Oh no, honey, you're
thinking a little too low.  I never dreamed of you taking my *shoes* off."  After the giggling and
blushing stopped, Iolaus took a deep breath and began unlacing his special boots.

He blushed hard as the scarred stumps were visible to everyone.  Instantly Demeter raised her hands and vines
began shooting out of the ground.  They seemed to be tying Iolaus down to the ground itself.  The goddess
grinned when she dropped her hands and a thick shrubbery covered Iolaus' legs.  He began fighting it,
but the more he struggled, the more tightly the vines held him down.  Hercules was terrified at the new
torture that his relatives created, and he and Jason began trying to tear the vines away.  This was a futile
act brought on by desperation, and the three goddesses only smiled.  Kora knelt by Iolaus and held his
hand.  She whispered, "Just let it happen, Iolaus.  Let it happen."

Iolaus stopped struggling and looked into her eyes.  Then he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, and
released his breath.  Instantly he gasped and sat up.  "What?!  Kora!  My feet!"

The tight vines that bound him transformed into soft petaled flowers, and peeking out of those red, yellow,
and white flowers were Iolaus' toes. ..healthy, pink, and wriggling.  Iolaus' giggles erupted with his
feet.  He quickly grasped those blessed appendages that had been missing for weeks.  "Herc!"

Jason grabbed one foot, and Herc the other.  They looked at the perfect feet, and then looked devilishly
at each other just before they began tickling.  Iolaus flopped back laughing and pleading for them
to stop, and then pleading for them not to stop.  Finally when they were saturated with tears of laughter and
joy,  Iolaus looked up at Demeter and whispered a heartfelt, "Thank you."  Hercules looked at
all three and nodded.  Hestia wiped the tears from her own eyes as she bowed and kissed the top
of Iolaus' head.  Artemis handed him a new bow with a somewhat strict order to stay out of her
grove.  Demeter just nodded in a disinterested way and disappeared.

In the days that followed, Iolaus tromped up to the Academy and stunned his new friends.  Cateaus smiled
broadly, but then sighed.  "Now, I guess we'll have to rely on Feducius to tell us the stories."  The young
cadet plopped down on the wooden bench.

"Hey, don't worry!  I'll  make it a point to stop by.  And hey! I'll have some new stories by then," he said as
he clapped the young man on the shoulder.  "And thanks for the encouragement.  You gave me a
taste of what I could do once I can't do this anymore.  I'll always appreciate that."

The cadet smiled sadly as he bade the "Golden Bard" farewell, and wished the "Golden Hunter a safe
journey.

When it came time for the heroes to leave, Iolaus approached Kora.  "You know, I'm really going to miss
having you take care of me.  I wasn't easy, was I?"

She just laughed, "Oh, I don't know.  In some ways, you've always been easy."  She pulled him to her
and gave him the kiss he'd always dreamed about.  "Just remember to come by when you visit
the Academy.  I'll always have a nice comfortable bed waiting for you.  Of course it's in the storage room."

He grinned as he put his forehead against hers, and then kissed the tip of her nose.  "I'll always remember.
By the way, what did Demeter call those?"  he asked as he looked to the tree with beautiful flowers
surrounding it.

"Well, she didn't say, but I think Artemis said they were called Tulips."

"Hmm, You know with my feet feeling terrific, I think next time I''d like to kick off my boots and try tiptoeing through them.
What do you think?"