CHAPTER 4: COURT OF THE GODS
Each of the gods take turns recalling all the wrong Hercules has ever done. They sit in their throne's accusing Zeus's son for even being born. Zeus has a sudden pain in his chest. His hands clench tight his throne's armrest as he leans back to brace his ailing body. This seems to weaken the throbbing at the center of the pain in his chest. Hermes watches and notices. The other vain gods have no compassion except to force their selfish points of view.
Hermes rises and pours a cool goblet of nectar. He humbly offers the king his gift. Zeus acknowledges him with a slight bobbing of his head. The king sips the nectar that seems to alleviate his pain. Hermes respectfully replies “Your Honor,” as he returns and sits again. Hermes listens to them bicker. It seems the king grows tired, as he orders, “Court today is done!”
Every godly face seems confused and angry to hear this godly proclamation. They have barely begun to list their charges. Zeus realizes now how all these gods are jealous of, or how much they hate, his mortal son. His pain and this revelation continue to pierce his ailing heart.
“I go to my chamber to rest from all your vain babbling. You may continue to make condemning evidence once I return from a needed rest. Temporarily adjourned. ”
Hermes feels a temporary relief. This recess will buy more time for Hercules. But, he senses the king's hidden sickness is becoming much worse and more obvious. He realizes this court and jury is not about Hercules treason, but it is a race against time itself. Once these selfish gods catch on to Zeus's weakening condition they will tear this temple apart to steal his seat of power.
Hermes leaves the great hall of the gods searching for a more peaceful place to organize his legal defense. He goes to walk the Elysian fields. The sweet flora relaxes his mind as he stroll over the peaceful rolling pastures. His thoughts are momentarily interrupted by little giggling children chasing dancing golden butterflies. He stops to absorb all the wonderment of heaven as a small nestling catches one. His wandering mind is amused with this tapestry of the afterlife.
He hears the rushing brook hid by rolling green hills. He journeys over top to investigate. He spots the babbling peaceful waters and the shade tree next to the stream. Its cool shade invites him come visit. Hermes glides over as a plan forms in his mind. The sweet grass, the cool shade, and the soothing water relax him. Within moments of sitting he falls asleep.
His mind travels in this mysterious journey. Thick clouds give way revealing the majestic island of Ishtar. Veils of mist drift off the towering monuments to the gods. His body flutters down and down through falls of cool gray vapor that stretches thinner into strands that change into an invisible blur. He spins his head to perceive how small he's become. His eyes follow the tall cold towers as he races the gold and bronze river to the ground.
He finally settles in a pasture. He leans back and notices all the sleeping giants. His mind prompts him don't meddle with the metal, it's the precious poison of this greedy place. His spirit glides along the footpath where no man has walked before. He finds a set of footprints that lead him to a door. He passes through a golden harp that plays a lovely tune. His spirit tastes its bitter essence as he passes through a room. He floats down the glowing steps to the chamber of the gods.
He wisp back and forth behind the crouching Hercules. He finds there is no way to consult with him. He can only circle the fallen hero and watch him weep. Hermes spirit hears the sound of steady beating coming from the gold block.
Hermes feels the disparity and understands the dilemma. He knows the solution to the problem, but he has no way to tell Hercules. He was the only god present when his father locked his heart inside the golden block. He is also the only god to hear the key word Zeus locked it with. He sealed it in a manner that makes it in possible to unlock by other means. Zeus made the cube divinely indestructible. There is only one way to open this golden riddle. He has to make Hercules say the one word key. But how?
Hermes spirit settles over Hercules in his attempt to comfort him. He tingles as they both meet. Hercules reacts to the encounter with a momentary cessation, alerting Hermes he must feel my presence. Hermes joins with his spirit.
Hercules mind pictures his father's deathbed. His heart hurts watching the gods carry his holy remains away. Hermes interjects better times into Hercules memories. He replaces these sober moments with childhood recollections when Zeus would magically appear.
“My son, can you see me?”
Hercules searches for his hiding father as he listens to him giggle. He feels the joy of his presence as he sneaks over to the source of his sound. He helps his son by sticking his belly slightly in his view. Hercules sees him sticking partway out. He delightfully dashes to his hiding spot screaming. “I found you father behind the column!” But, his father vanishes the second he gets near. His giggle comes from another direction, as the game continues on.
The delightful memory causes Hercules to unintentionally speak into his hands, “Father.”
He is startled by the sudden sound forcing his tears to stop. He drops his hands off his swollen cheeks as the golden box dissolves away. In the air in front of his face floats the beating heart of his father. A halo of gold light surrounds it. He leans over the deep red heart as his eyes follow the pulsing veins and arteries. A bright slither festers in a dark patch.
Hermes feels Zeus scream out. He immediately is awaken from his sleep.
He hurries to rub his eyes and force attention to his waking mind and body. He rises and soars his way back to Zeus's side.
“I heard you call great king. What is your problem?”
Zeus tosses back and worth while clutching his chest.
“I have great pain in my heart. I believe I am dying.”
Hermes rushes over to his side. He sets on the kings bed and then grabs the kings arm. He whispers in the kings ear, “Trust me Zeus. You will feel great relief in a moment.”
Zeus scream in agony as he rolls off his bed. On his hands and knees he sucks a great breath. His eyes stretch wide open as he holds his breath in place. His right hand covers his chest, as his face fills with questions. It's as if new life fills him as the pain disappears. He looks to Hermes for the answers his mind knows he holds. He foreknew his healing heart.
Before he demands his answers, his eyes are alerted to a thieving act. He stares to see his son holding a wooden splinter in his fingers, as he stands before his healing heart. In this moment, Zeus realizes the feat his escaped son had to face to find this treasure. But, the only thing he's stole is the hidden splinter in his father's heart. Zeus immediately comes to Hercules in a vision.
“I am sorry son for the way I have treated you. You must leave now! You have woken all the giants. Take my golden bow and quiver filled with endless arrows. This gift may help you survive. I love you son. Quickly, go!”
Hercules fills with joy. These are the words he's dreamed one day to hear. The ground grumbles with a great earthquake. A gargantuan brass hand thrust into the earth. He retrieves father's heart and gently slides inside his tunic. He leaps for the bow and quiver as the chamber collapses all around him. A giant golden hand penetrates down through the chamber. He grabs a golden arrow and shoots his arrow in the massive hand. Hercules leaps and grab the golden arrow. The hand scoops through the chamber as Hercules holds tight to the arrow. It lifts up giving Hercules a way out. He thrust up through the crust as dust blinds Hercules, and his father's anxious vision.
Zeus enters the temple chamber while staring below. He notices the mesmerized gods staring too. Zeus takes his thrown with a new vigor. He watches this gigantic army try and finish off his son.
He frantically thinks of a way to help him. But all the gods remind him of the rules. Ishtar is the most sacred secret place of the gods. No man or god is allowed there unless all the gods agree. Zeus demands an immediate unanimous consensus, but the villainous gods and goddesses state “These things take time.” And, “A decision on this magnitude takes great thought.”
Zeus yells, “Silence!” He thrust his mighty scepter into the floor that forces holy reverence. He shakes in anger which causes the chamber to rumble, but he surrenders to the gods to prevent the heavens from being pulled apart. He whispers to Hercules, “Kill the giants with my blessings.”
Hercules rises to the light and sees a dozen giant faces searching the ground. He is lifted to the golden giant face beneath its probing eyes. The giant crushes Hercules with his closing metal fingers. They screech and squeal as they squeeze closed. Zeus's heart pains him greater than before, He lowers his head into his trembling hands announcing his son's final defeat. The other gods portray smirking smiles of victory and justices. All except the faces of Hermes, and mysteriously, Hera's. Zeus has an awkward feeling where there should be none. He senses hope.
The gods alert the king something unusual is happening. He immediately removes his hands from his eyes and looks down at the Ishtar giants. Giant finger pry open as his son screams, “Mount Olympus!” Amazement paints Zeus's face. Hercules stretches his body upward and snaps the giant's golden digit off. Colossus retaliates by smashing his fist into Hercules, but the son of Zeus leaps to safety as the golden metal monster looses its hand. He lands on the shoulder of Colossus. A rush of wind blows toward him. He slides down the bronze tunic to avoid the smashing bronze fist. Colossus face shatters in the impact. An avalanche of bronze metal bounces off as a bronze dust cloud rains down.
In this moment, Zeus feels an unusual urge. It's as if his body is in the very hands of his son. Hercules reaches in his tunic and grasp his father's heart making sure it still remains secure. Zeus reacts by grasping his chest where his should be. His nervous palm feels the beat of two hearts with his hand where none should exist. Hercules feels it too.
He leaps onto another giant. A loud crashing sound causes Hercules to look back toward Colossus. A massive bronze disc is lodged in the Colossus chest where he was a second ago. A crack forms splitting him in two. Colossus falls to the ground destroyed. Hercules heart races. Zeus can feel it too. In this second, both their hearts join in unison, as if they now beat as one. Zeus feels everything Hercules feels. Hercules sees everything his father sees. Both now battle the giants together.
Zeus's heart reveals a godly secret to Hercules. Each of the remaining giants were created with vain hands. Hercules realizes his father's plan. He climbs to the golden neck of this javelin thrower and waits for the next nearing tower to thrash him. He leaps onto the waistline of a sword wielding bronze beast. This giant stabs his sword at the spot Hercules leaps from on the javelin thrower. A javelin stabs into the giant swordsman's belly. Hercules leaps and grabs the belt on the waist of the javelin thrower. The javelin rip’s up through the metal swordsman. A crack forms running from the right chest across to the left abdomen. A loud metal screeching sound screams out as the top half slides off the bottom torso. Both sections of the swordsman smash to the ground.
Zeus's heart screams, “Yes!”
Hercules is overwhelmed with his father's excited approval. His muscles pulsate with a new exponential energy he has never felt before.
The other gods look down in horror. A gold hand reaches toward Hercules. He avoids them by leaping to the golden strap holding to the bowman's quiver. The bowman's hands reach toward Hercules. A missile soars through the air. Hercules looks to see the wrecking ball shot-put slam down upon the javelin thrower. The ball as big a two houses cracks the giant in half. Hercules hurries up the strap of the bowman. Before he reaches its shoulder, the swooshing of air passes over his ducking head. The giant' bowman's head is lopped in to the air. Its hands continue to search its chest as they continue hunt for Hercules. He leaps onto the shield of a giant soldier just as the headless giant's body is sliced through by its own blade. The sword lifts up as the giant hands stop searching. Its metal body slowly sequels as it crashes to the ground. Hercules moves just in time as he hears the propelling gold spear stabs through the shield. It pulls out as he climbs higher to the top of the shield. The warrior giant holding the shield turns it toward his face. It reaches in front of his shield to grab Hercules. The soldier slices with its sword through the shield and severs its probing arm. Hercules flies on to the giant soldier's chest. As he lands, the warrior thrust his damaged shield into the chest of the giant soldier. Hercules immediately leaps toward the approaching shot-put thrower. He grabs the end of his swinging sash. The upper part of the giant soldier's body cracks and folds away before smashing to the ground. The warrior statue swings his blade at the dangling Hercules. He lift his body as the blade passes under him slicing the lean off. The Shot-put thrower tilts and slams to the ground.
Pegasus joins the battle. Hercules glides down on the floating body of his steed. “Away Pegasus!” The second they fly away a sword slashes across the area. Pegasus gallops up and up past the reach of the warrior. Hercules looks down and watches the sea return. He stares at the one armed warrior as it disappears below the rushing waves.
Zeus yells out,“That's my son.” He vindictively pokes his pointing finger towards the faces of defeated eyes. “That's my son!” His face overfills with superfluous anger as prepares to launch lightening blast. He's suddenly overtaken with a strange emotion. It's so powerful he drops his scepter in confusion. His heart is overfilled with this most strange desire, His weaken bodies orders him to sit. It's as if something marvelous is happening. He feels he must yield to this invisible substance that fills him with great joy and eternal peace.
Hercules feels his father's gentle heart is experiencing something inexplicable.
Zeus tells his son, “I feel childish. I am light as a heavenly feather. What is happening?”
“You are filled with compassion and forgiveness.”
Zeus strangely asks, “Is that what I feel?”
Hercules places his hand over their hearts and softly caresses his dear father's. “I feel it too.”
Zeus looks at all the goods as he giggles. “I forgive you.” He stands and laughs while walking around the holy chamber. He points and states, “I for give you, and you, and you!”
All the gods believe the king has gone berserk. But, they know he still contains the power to destroy everyone of them.
Zeus enjoys the festive feeling. “I don't hate you, or you, or you.”
All the gods except one reverently kneel in repenting submission.
Zeus stands mighty. He feels all powerful. The gods and goddesses pray to Zeus asking for his forgiveness. Zeus notices the one goddess not in attendance. He sees her in the shadows hiding. She is alert to his gaze as she prepares to retreat. A just anger slowly rises in Zeus once more.
“Hera, come forth!”
She stops instantly in her retreat. His commanding voice grabs her and forces her to obey. She approaches stating, “Yes my lord.”
“Of all the gods and goddesses you have the most to repent. You have hated my mighty son since his birth. You have plotted so many plans to destroy him that I cannot count them all.”
Zeus's eyes fill once more with vengeful fire as he raises his mighty scepter. Lightening crackles as his staff fully charges preparing to pronounce righteous judgment. “Yet, you still refused my forgiving grace!'
Hera humbles herself before the king. She kneels before him with her bowed head. “Do what you must my king. For your punishment is just!”
Zeus stabs his bolt down, as Hercules crashes open the temple doors.
“Stop father!”
It takes all Zeus's strength to hold back his wrath, but he manages to just in time. He freezes in place as Pegasus lands at his throne. Hercules dismounts and bows.
Zeus is angered by his son's judicial announcement, but his new sense of compassion warns him to wait.
Hercules rises. “I wish to show you something.” From within his tunic he pulls the flute. “I submit this in evidence that Hera should not be condemned, or even accused.”
He hands it to Zeus as the king orders Hera,
“Arise.” Zeus ask, “How does this exonerate your wicked stepmother?”
“Please study what binds the flute together.”
Hera's hung head stares around towards Hercules just to find him smiling at her. Her eyes burst with tears.
Zeus sees the golden strand. Hercules asks, “Whom else but my mother could have bond the flute together?”
Hera's eyes sparkle to hear the words her heart has always so desired.
Hercules continues his defense of Hera. “Without this flute I could not have raised the secret island of Ishtar. Without her whispering poem I would not have been able to solve the source of your heart ache.” He looks over at Hera and nods his thankfulness. Hera accepts his revelation as truth by her confirming nod of gratefulness. “And, I would not have been able to escape your confinement father if she did not faithfully trust me to defeat the impossible. It was Hera whom gave me a way of escape with this. May I introduce my next piece of evidence?” Hercules hands father the potion of endure.
Zeus opens the tiny vial and sniffs it. “This smells very, very sweet.”
May I ask you to introduce the vial to the jury?” Hercules knows his father's change of heart has delivered him from what gods normally smell.
Zeus hands the vial back to Hercules. Hercules holds the vial beneath each god and goddess nose as he round the chamber. Each of them react to the pungent poison by coughing and sneezing out the potent stuff. Each proclaims the ghastly substance as the moss of Endure.
Zeus asks, “Why did it smell so sweet to me?”
“Father, it's because your vain ailing heart has changed.
Zeus feels slighted by this summation. He looks at his son wondering how he could be so callous.
“I say this in love father. It is true. But, you are now wiser than you have ever been because your compassion makes you new.” Hercules bows his righteous head.
Zeus knows this is true. “While I do not enjoy your proclamation, I too agree with your loving truth.”
Hercules pronounces, “I rest my case.”
Zeus stares at Hera's watery eyes and asks, “Why? Why have you wasted all these years on trivial trickery?” He stands ready to forgive her, but he needs to have more of a reason than a lifelong practice of deception.
“There are two reasons my king.”
Zeus states, “Have I not always treated you fairly, giving you respect, power, and godly gifts?”
“Yes my lord.
“Have I not trusted you with all my secrets?”
“Again, yes my lord.”
“And, have I not cherished you faithfully always?” As he finish speaking these words his new heart reminds him of his past lust in earthly women. He looks to her eyes and begs her for forgiveness in his infidelity.”I am sorry for the pain I have caused you Hera.” He bows is shameful head.
“I forgive you husband.” She watches as he now cries. She compassionately stares knowing these tears cleans this sin forever changing his new found heart.
She draws near him to comfort him, but he instead lunges with his longing embrace. The temple rumbles once more. Both cleans away the eternal sickening distrust, as a new flame is infinitely ignited. They rest in its warmth a moment longer, holding onto the burning love inside.
Hercules interrupts the special moment. “I introduce my last piece of evidence. I end my defense.” He reaches inside his tunic and then hands his father his heart.
Zeus stares in his son's eyes, “I only trusted you when I hid my heart to protect it from the vain gods. I knew one day they would attempt to overthrow my power and try and kill me.”
“I found that out when I cried out father. I am the only one that could have called you that.”
Hera takes her turn to interrupt there special moment. “Do I not get a chance to answer my defense?”
Zeus's hands gently embraces her arms as he moves at arms distance away. “You have my ear dear.”
“There was reason I acted so. I was there when you locked your heart away. I hid in the chambers shadows. Do you remember when you took it from your chest my king?”
Zeus's mind recalls the moment.
“You plucked it out and then prepared to settle your heart inside the box.”
Zeus's mind replays the memory in a vision as he follows along.
“This is very important. Do you remember hearing a startling sound drawing you attention away from your heart?”
His mind remembers there was something unusual about that moment, but I looked and saw nothing.
“I saw what you did not.”
Zeus's eyes look strangely at Hera asking her to reveal her hidden secret.
“I saw a sparkling slither slide into your outstretched heart when you eyes looked away.”
Zeus stands in anger waiting for her. “Please continue.”
“You returned your gaze upon your heart while reacting to the small prick of pain. Not seeing anything unusual, you locked the golden box safely securing your infected heart.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Remember my king. At that time I found out your lust for another. It would not have been the proper time for you to believe me.”
Zeus's mouth stretches as his remorseful breath sucks his cheeks up in agreement.
“I waited in hiding for you to leave. I waited to find the culprit wishing you ill.”
Hera looks around the temple chamber as Zeus senses her reluctance to proceed. He knows the perpetrator is here. Zeus stands facing the circle of seated gods. He draws high his bolt of lightening.
Zeus firmly warns, “I give that god or goddess one chance to come forward and defend their treason.” His eyes search for any reaction that might reveal this god or goddess. He bolt remains fixed in ready position as he says, “Continue on my love.”
Hercules mounts Pegasus. He circles in the air over top these nervous deities awaiting his stepmother to speak.
“I watched as the Helmet of Darkness materialized atop the gods rack of weapons. That is when I first saw him as he rematerialized.”
Zeus knows half the suspects in this room have been eliminated. He now focuses his attention on all the gods.
“I knew no god would believe me. They would have attributed my accusation to jealousy. For every god and goddess was aware of your philandering ways. I too though you would act the same my husband. I was too ashamed and embarrassed to come forth.”
Zeus understands now how insignificantly he treated her and why she'd hide the truth. He was not worthy of her love or trust. His shameful head hangs slightly in his embarrassment. But, not enough to relieve his eyes off the gods.
“I knew I must wait for the right time. I would hold this burden for ever if it required it. But, I was going to tell you when I was sure you either would believe me, or if you became too ill. The later happened first. During this time you thought I hated your son. It seems I gave you every reason to believe so. All my actions seem I was attempting his assassination. I never would have let that happen. I was just preparing him to do what was impossible. All his trials were to give him strength to complete the most important task he must ever face. All his pain would develop compassion, and all his suffering to give him the necessary wisdom he would most desperately need. And he handsomely defeated the giants of Ishtar, for that I am so very proud of. For this I will never apologize. Hercules, please know this. I always suffered alongside you. I secretly wept when you wept. I always wanted to be the godly mother you so desired but never had. I truly wanted to hold and hug you, I made sure that your other mother did.” Hera falls on the crystal floor under the weight of her tears. “This culprit here also disguised himself as me when you family was murdered, I had nothing to do with it.”
Hercules heart is doing what it so longed for, to love her and forgive her. He so wants to hold her and comfort her for the very first time in his life. But, he knows he must hold fast until the attempted murder is unveiled.
Zeus's comforting voice asks he
r, “My dear, for the last time tell me who he is!”