The Greatest Hero of Mythology: Herakles VS The Hydra Part 1
Herakles would have much preferred to send Iolaus back home to Alcmene. This was his intent when he stepped out of the woodlands. It was the sole purpose for which he had entered the woods and had gone to rescue his nephew. However, from the moment he exited the forest he was assailed by the light of the suns’. He had thought to bring the young woman along with them if only so far as Minevra, however she had been quick to dismiss herself, with the young man hardly wishing to keep her near on account of his pressing need to continue with his journey south to Lérnē.
Iolaus had taken her departure poorly, and was visibly melancholic to see her leave them the moment that they had stepped out from the forest. Following her across the long unpaved road that led south-east away from them with his wide blue eyes, he was to declare, “I miss her company already, and do hope we will see her once more.”
“I am only glad that she saw fit to shield thee from harm nephew,” Herakles replied if grudgingly, “Now we must discuss your return home to mother.”
“What?” This revelation visibly stunned the boy who gaped up at the half-god, “But I had thought to accompany you on this quest uncle!”
If the child was stunned by the dismissal on the part of his uncle, the man himself was even more alarmed by this proclamation. Staring at the boy in alarm, he could only ponder what it was that had possessed the child to think it wise to follow after him.
He turned away then and pointing north he commanded him, “Go back from whence you came Iolaus, mother is full of worry for thee and I shan’t be thinking of you whilst in the midst of battle.”
“But uncle-”
“I have spoken, Iolaus now go back,” Herakles decided as he began to step along down the road and back down the path of his grand quest.
Staring after him the boy discouraged as he was, could not quite bring himself to do as he had been bidden to do by his uncle. A filial child he had always sought to honour his grandmother, his father and his uncle, all without question. He had at one time played with the young children of his uncle though he was years their elder, so that they had been more siblings than distant kinsmen. Hardly abused though he was an illegitimate son born from an impetuous affair on the part of his father at a mere thirteen years of age, he had however since the loss of his cousins’ become lost in the world. Always he had played with them, always he had occupied himself with play and with helping run errands for his grandmother, or otherwise learning to use the sword, the lyre and to hunt. It was thus with more than a little enthusiasm he had taken to the thought of helping to avenge his cousins and aunt, whom he had dearly loved and joining his beloved uncle on the man’s myriad adventures.
Certainly his uncle had been sorely wounded in spirit, and had been very firm in telling him he could not accompany him, Iolaus mused in a dark mood. However, the more he thought the matter over as he watched as his uncle made for the south the youth thought back to what his father might well have done.
Iphicles was a bold man cut in the image of his father not only physically, but also spiritually. It was he who had imparted to Iolaus his resolve and an example he hoped always to aspire after.
If father were present, he told himself he would not let Uncle Herakles go south on his own. He would follow after him even if it meant that he would be defying the man’s wishes.
“I too am brave, and can be heroic!” Iolaus resolved as he barrelled after his uncle.
He did not yet know it, but the young man though reluctant to take him on, was to deliberately slow his pace that he might follow without being wholly left behind on the road. The irritation and poor mood of the son of Zeus remained both day and night thereafter so that Iolaus was to endure some of the coldest, most bitter days of his life.
Neither of them noticed far away behind them on the second day, a man trailing after their steps before he turned back to report to the King of Thíva.