FanStory.com - Hermes' Missiveby davisr (Rhonda)

Background
Years after a fire took her parents lives and devastated her home, Echo worked at a small town newspaper. She was rescued from danger by her old friend, Theo, who took her to a new life in his world.

End of Last Chapter:

With no further word, Phoebus and Diantha disappeared into the house.

"I think your father's worried," Echo said.

"He is."

"Should we be?"

"Aren't we?"

"I am," Echo said.

"So am I."

Theo took her hand and led her inside. He had a feeling, one he didn't share with Echo, that it would be a very long time before they saw his parents again.

New Chapter:

Echo took in her surroundings as she rode on the back of Nifty, Theo's great, sorrel stallion. She still wasn't comfortable riding alone, so she rode behind the enchanting Crowned Prince.

As usual, the air smelled of winter flowers and evergreen trees. The beauty of the valley still enveloped her in wonder, but there was an unusual chill to the air that foreboded peace in jeopardy.

It had been days since the royal couple left for Mount Olympus. During this uncertain time, she had still gotten to know Theo's siblings and extended family members. Since the kids were on Christmas Vacation, there were many fun activities, like swim parties, croquet games, wrestling matches and lots of eating. Each person, in his or her own way, formed a relationship with Echo, one that would be tested and refined by adversity.

Thinking of Rebecca, she stroked a golden necklace around her neck. On it was a flower shaped charm with an engraving of her name. Rebecca told her Theo had found it in the ashes of her home after she'd gone to live with her grandparents, and had left it with her for safekeeping.

Echo had no memory of the necklace, but figured it must have been an intended gift from her parents - a gift that had survived a fire unscathed.

In her backpack was tucked another item eight-year-old Theo had saved for her - Cindy, her teddy bear, a toy left behind in a clearing long ago. Cindy had, also, been kept in the safe-keeping of Rebecca.

Snuggling in the backpack with the toy, was her Russian Blue cat, Sunny. He had spent most of his time running around the castle with Hannah's cats and rabbits, but had insisted on going on the journey with Echo now.

Theo leaned his head back and touched Echo's cheek.

"You're being awfully quiet. What's on your mind?"

"Just thinking about your brothers and sisters."

Theo chuckled. "They're a mess."

"Yeah, but a good one. I think I've caught up on having siblings all in three day's time."

"The worst one is the oldest," a voice said. Echo turned to see a rider approach on her left.

"Georgios!" she cried out.

"Hi, Sparrow," the large man said. He reached beside Theo to give her a warm, hairy hug.

"I wondered when I'd finally get to see you."

Georgios roared with laughter. "I didn't think you'd ever want to. Our last meeting wasn't under the best of circumstances."

"You saved my life."

Theo cleared his throat. "To be precise, I saved your life by pinning Junior to the step with an arrow. Georgios just took you to the trees."

Georgios responded by plucking Echo off Nifty and placing her in front of him on his palomino stallion. Once more, Echo was impressed by his strength and agility. With a gentle nudge from his mighty legs, Theo's older brother urged his horse forward.

"Hey, bring her back," Theo said.

"Catch me."

The two brothers raced in what Echo assumed was a frequent contest. It ended with Georgios in the lead at a cottage near the end of the path.

Laughing, he gave her another hug, and placed her on the ground with surprising gentleness. He dismounted and joined her.

Theo arrived a few seconds later and dismounted as well and embraced.

"It's good to see you, you old goat," Theo said.

"Horse, but you're close."

Echo felt this greeting was repeated as often as the race.

"How are things going in the field?" Theo asked.

"We're ready for battle if it comes to the valley," Georgios replied.

In the light of day, Echo could tell the animal features Georgios bore, did, indeed, look like horse. It made sense. His mother had been a real Centaur and his father one by circumstance.

Theo nodded as though the news was expected. "Good, good. I hope it doesn't come to a war here, but, as dad said, we must stay vigilant."

Georgios nodded. "Always. Have you heard anything from Mount Olympus?"

"Nothing directly," Theo said, "but I received instructions to meet a messenger here today."

Georgios nodded. "Same here."

"And I just wanted to tag along," Echo said. She unzipped the backpack with Sunny inside.

The tall, gray cat leapt out and shook himself. He gave both men a nasty look expressing his opinion of being unnecessarily jostled about. To emphasize his point, he hissed and mewed. Georgios laughed and patted Sunny on the head. He mewed back at the incensed cat.

"Sorry, old buddy," Georgios repeated in human-talk.

"You speak cat?" Echo asked.

"I speak many animal languages," he replied.

"Like Hannah?"

"Yeah, who do you think taught her?" Georgios laughed again. "Hey, brother. Do you have anything inside to eat? I'm famished."

"Sure, there are plenty of jarred goods in the cabinets. Help yourself. You know you needn't ask."

Georgios glanced at Echo as though he'd been polite in deference to her. She graced him with a smile.

Just as he reached for the door, it swung open. Out strode a man so handsome, it made Echo shudder. He was tall, well over six and a half feet, with broad shoulders and chiseled muscles that bulged from beneath a leather vest. Light brown hair flowed down his neck, giving him a youthful look Echo had a feeling didn't reflect his true age.

Beautiful white wings flowed behind him, lending an angelic quality to a man whose eyes betrayed a most non-angelic glint.

On his feet were golden sandals, the straps of which wound around his calves and crept up to his knees.

"You've got to be Hermes," Echo said once she could catch her breath.

The man reached her in a few steps and took both her hands in his. He raised them to his lips and brushed them with a tender kiss. He smelled of spices and lavender as though they emanated from his body.

"At your service," he said. The sparkle in his eyes became more pronounced as a saucy grin played about his lips. "And you must be the charming Echo I've heard so much about."

Echo blushed and glanced at Theo, whose face bore its own grin.

"Echo, meet my second cousin, Hermes. Hermes, my beloved, Echo."

Hermes held Echo's eyes for a moment, then stepped back. "My pleasure, my dear."

"Hermes, I assume you've brought the instructions we were expecting," Georgios said. He slapped the taller man on the shoulder. "What tidings do you bring?"

"Both good and bad."

"Par for the course for you," Georgios said.

"That's fair." Hermes had grown somber, but still radiated a childlike quality. "Bad news is, your parents are being held hostage on Mount Olympus along with the other gods. Hades has undertaken a revolution with his minions, which your parents were aware of when they left."

"How did you get away?" Theo asked.

Hermes shrugged. "You know how I am. It would take more than Hades to pin me down. Zeus gave me a missive to present to you containing your trial for godhood, which is the good news portion of this meeting."

"Thank you, Hermes. I appreciate the lengths you must have gone through to get it here," Theo said. "I was aware it would arrive soon, and that it had to be delivered by one of the Twelve Olympians. You aren't going to try to go back now, are you?"

"Nope, not me. I might act foolishly, but I'm no fool."

"I hear that," Theo said. "So, why don't you stay with us until we can figure out a plan?"

"Where will you be?"

"At my parents' house. I can't stay here, alone, with Echo. We aren't married."

"What's this, a god with a moral compass?" Hermes chuckled. "Don't let the others know, you might start a dangerous trend."

"It would take more than me to change their wicked ways, but I'll keep trying."

"Your father has always tried to whip us into a better bunch, but to answer your question, I would prefer to stay here at your house in case anyone comes looking for me. They'll know I entered your world here."

"Sounds great," Theo said. "I'll see if Adam would like to come and keep you company. You can help him with his archery."

"I'll be happy to," Hermes said, "although I hear he wants to be a dancer not a fighter. I can help him with that, too, if you'd like."

"Stay focused on his fighting skills," Georgios said. "We want him to defend himself, not sweep maidens off their feet."

"I can be responsible," Hermes said. "Your brother is absolutely safe in my hands. Send the lad over."

Theo and Georgios exchanged doubtfull glances, but as it had been Theo's idea to begin with, they nodded.

"Good," Hermes said. He brushed his hands together to indicate finality. "Now, let's get down to my second reason for being here.

"I present to you, ahem, a letter with your official godhood trial inscribed within. In case you didn't know, it's called a Summons, and you're bound by its contents if you open it; all very formal, you know. Good luck, dear cousin, and may the God who rules us all, be with you. You'll need all the help you can get."

"Do you know its contents?" Theo asked. He took the envelope from Hermes and turned it over in his hand. The back was embossed with a lightning bolt, the official seal of Zeus.

"Are you kidding? I helped write it. You'll find my signature at the bottom along with most of the other gods. The only ones missing are Hades and Apollo, for obvious reasons."

"Well, thanks," Theo said. "Go inside and make yourself at home. There's food in the cabinet."

"I am a bit hungry," Hermes said. He turned to walk in the house, but before he left, stopped and looked directly at Theo. "This quest of yours involves more than a coming of age ritual. The other gods need you, cousin, and I want you to seek my help as needed. It's allowed."

"Thank you, Hermes."

"Don't thank me yet," he said darkly, "I'm not much of a soldier. If you really want help, find my brother, Apollo."

"Do you know where he is?"

"Yes, on Earth," Hermes said grinning. He had been serious for about as long as he could take it.

"So that's Hermes," Echo said as he left. "He's not what I would have expected, "but I'm glad he's on our side."

"Yeah, me, too. I have a feeling if he went bad, he'd make Hades look like a pussy cat," Theo said.

Sunny growled in protest.

"Present company excluded," Theo added.

"Well, are you going to open that package now, or wait until all three of us die of old age?" Georgios asked.

"I guess so, but I really hoped father would be here for the official reading. We've waited so long for it to come."

"I completely understand," Echo said. "I grew up wishing my parents were there to see my important milestones. Sometimes I would even pretend they were there watching."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Theo said, "but I'm eternally grateful you made it out of the fire."

"And I'm grateful you were there to rescue me."

"Theo?"

"Yes, Georgios?"

"Open the envelope."

"Fine."

With eyes wide, he slipped a finger under the seal and broke it. He reached inside and pulled out a piece of parchment that had handwriting scribbled across it in a foreign language. Echo looked at it and squinted her eyes.

"What's it say? I can't read it."

"It's all Greek to me," he said.

Echo rolled her eyes. "It really is Greek, isn't it?"

"Yes," Theo said. He smiled at Echo.

"And you can read it?"

"Yes, my father taught it to all of us. Basically, the letter says I'm called to perform a trial, the successful completion of which will give me a spot, and I can't believe this at all, on the court of the Twelve Olympians. That can't be. I guess Apollo has officially resigned. I had only expected to take over some minor duties, not replace anyone."

"That's exciting," Georgios said. "So what will you have to do to get that spot?"

"I don't know, I haven't gotten that far."

Finally, he looked up, a bleak look in his emerald eyes.

"What is it?" Echo asked.

"They're asking me to defeat Hades and rescue the other gods. How can they possibly expect me to undertake something none of them were able to do?"

"My guess is they're out of other options," Echo said, "and you're their only hope."

"But I'm hardly more than a child."

"Isn't that what your trial is for, to become a man?" Echo asked.

"No," Georgios answered for him, "This trial is about becoming a god. Does it say anything about how to do it?"

"There are no suggestions," Theo said, "just the quest, itself. It says to seek help wherever I can find it, and to use my friends and family members according to their abilities."

"I'm not even sure what that means," Echo said. "Maybe you should go in and ask Hermes."

"He won't explain," Georgios said. "He can provide help if asked, but can't interpret the meaning."

"Even if you do figure out how to fight him, how will you get everyone to Mount Olympus to do it?" Echo asked.

"I won't have to," Theo said. "It appears the battle will be fought here in Concorde Valley in one week's time."

"That doesn't give you long to get ready," Echo said.

"As I said," Georgios said, "our troops are prepped and ready to fight. This is news, but not surprising news."

Echo looked thoughtful. "Do you two really think this fight can be won by strength of arms?"

"What do you mean?" they asked together.

"Well, if fighting would end the conflict, wouldn't Zeus' men have stopped him already? I'm just thinking you'll have to use other methods to overcome this guy. You know, find a weapon they haven't thought of."

"That's a good point. But we're still going to have the soldiers ready," Theo said, "besides, when did you start learning war strategy?"

"When I played Capture the Flag with your siblings. Seriously, though, I did a series of articles about one of the local men in Taylorville who was a war veteran. You'd be surprised at some of the stories he'd tell."

"Sparrow has a point," Georgios said. "This battle may well be fought by unusual means. I say we find Apollo and see what insight he gives."

Theo's eyes suddenly lit up. "I have an idea that'll allow us to stay here and prepare troops, and find Apollo at the same time. Follow me."

"Hermes," he called out as they walked towards his house. "I've got a job for you."