Bittersweet Betrayal of My Hart
(unfortunately) by Erin
May 2000

Iolaus stretched and enountered another form in the bed behind him. An enchanting smile formed on Iolaus' lips, still swollen from the passion of the night before, as the feel of calloused skin and hard muscle pressed against him brought back the glorious memories of the momentous events of the night before.

Ares, the magnificant God of War loved HIM. After their heartfelt, tearful confessions of mutual love, mounting desire had forced them to adjourn to Ares' bedchamber where the consumation of their rapturous need for each other had taken place with all the passionate ecstasy Iolaus had ever dreamed of.

Iolaus had been a virgin, completely pure and innocent. But Ares had known and had been oh, so gentle and patient with him. Their love was new and fragile and like a newly bloomed bed of tulips one must tiptoe through to avoid crushing, the War God had known that he had to proceed with great care so as not to harm his Golden Hunter. He had divested Iolaus of his clothes piece by piece, caressing and kissing every inch of exposed skin...Iolaus almost moaned at the mere memory of it, so powerful was the recollection.

But when Ares had finally undressed himself, Iolaus hadn't been able to suppress a bit of fear. The War God's mighty staff of manly prowess was impossibly HUGE, as long as a man's forearm and twice as thick. Iolaus had almost swooned at the sight of it. But Ares had comforted him and shown him it was nothing to be frightened of.

Iolaus had soon learned to desire Ares' massive throbbing love muscle and the sweet feelings of passion it aroused in him. 10 times in just the 1st hour Ares had brought him to shuddering ecstasy with just his full, sweet lips and large, manly hands, and then when the War God finally slid his blazing shaft of destiny into Iolaus' hungry center of desire, Iolaus knew the true meaning of Elisia.

"Good morning, love." The husky whisper sent hot breath over his ear, making Iolaus shiver in anticipation. But it was not to be. "I have to put in an appearance at the temple. It is expected." Ares said with audible regret.

"I don't mind," Iolaus lied. In truth, he dreaded being seperated from the man who held his heart for eternity, but he would make the sacrifice for Ares' sake.

"Wait for me here, my love," said Ares, the sorrow in his voice at leaving his golden lover by himself plain to hear. "I will be back soon and then we will make love for hours."

Iolaus smiled at that and turned to kiss him, letting the depths of his love and hunger for his lover show in that simple meeting of lips and tongues. Seemingly endless moments passed before they could bear to draw away from each other.

As Ares climbed out of the bed, Iolaus only had the briefest of moments to admire the glorious body bared to his view before tight black leathers appeared to cover that marvelous work of art. Blowing his lover a kiss, Ares then walked out of the room, through the darkened doorway that had yet to be touched by the morning sun, to the temple beyond.

Almost immediately Ares came to a sudden, shocked halt as he beheld the man standing in the middle of the temple. "HERCULES?" He didn't know what to make of his brother's appearance, but a heavy, ominous air clouded the temple, chasing away the joyus mood Iolaus had given him.

"ARES!" Hercules growled the War God's name, his ire and fury coming through with frightening clarity in that fearfully dark sound. "What have you done with Iolaus?"

"You have to understand, I LOVE HIM!" Ares pleaded desperately with his irrational brother.

"You do NOT know the meaning of love!" Hercules accused angrily. "You are just PLAYING with Iolaus to hurt ME!"

The words cut deeply for Ares did know the meaning of love, he had learned it the instant he had looked into the deep ocean blue of Iolaus' beautiful eyes.

"I do love him!" Ares insisted, trying to make his brother see reason. "I have for years and I never wanted to hurt you. I should have told you so long ago, little brother, but I love YOU too!"

A sudden, startled, heart-wrenching gasp from the doorway ripped Ares' attention from Hercules. He turned and beheld in horror, Iolaus standing there, a devestated look on his gorgeous face.

"I KNEW IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!" Iolaus' voice was filled with betrayal and deep sorrow, tears already forming in his wide, sky-blue eyes. "You love HERCULES and not me! You were just USING me!"

"NO!" Ares protested. "I do love Hercules, but like a BROTHER!"

But it was too late. Iolaus fled the temple, his sobs too loud for him to hear Ares' desperate explanation. He did not know where to go so he fled blindly. All he knew was that his life was over. Ares did not love him and Hercules would not want him after this so there was no point in living. Soon he found himself at the edge of a cliff. Far below the powerful waves of the sea crashed against the sharp, jagged rocks, the sound harsh and yet comforting for it told him what he must do. He had to throw himself to his death, only then would things be set right. He started to step off.

"WAIT!"

It was the sweetest voice Iolaus had ever heard. It was as though the angles themselves had come down from THE LIGHT and spoken to him. He could not kill himself now, he had to know who it was who possessed such a beautius voice. Turning away from the cliff, he was awestruck by the sight that confronted him.

She was the fulfillment of all his fantasies. Long, raven hair cascaded down her sculpted back, her royal blue eyes flashed in the sunlight as her long legs carried her to him in quick strides. "You MUST NOT jump, Iolaus!" she cried out as she approached him, her porcilan skin covered with a delicate flush from her exertians.

"But I HAVE to," he insisted. "It is the ONLY WAY!--Um, don't I know you?" He frowned, overcome by the feeling that he did indeed know this enchanting creature that stood before him.

"No, we have never met," she responded, her melodius voice sending shivers of desire through him despite the recent pain of Ares' betrayal. "But I have been BLESSED by the gift of foresight so I knew you would try to end your life today, just as I knew I MUST stop you so you could fulfil your TRUE destiny."

"I don't understand." Iolaus stopped as a distant memory suddenly struck him with the force of a hurricane. "I DO know you!" he exclaimed in rapturous wonderment. "It has been YEARS and I feared I would never see you again, my love!" He rushed forward to embrace her tearfully. "Don't you remember? You were an evil warlord until Hercules and I came along and converted you. You loved us both and we loved you, but you feared that you would come between our deep but platonic friendship, so you left to seek your own destiny so Herc and I would not fight over you." He hugged her tighter, rejoicing in the rediscovery of his long-lost love.

The delicate creature in his arms gently disentangled herself from him, her exquisitely features pulled into a frown. Her full, red lips parted then and in the sweetest of tones that put flocks of song birds to shame, she spoke: "Huh?"

Then her eyes, limped pools of blue saphire, widened in comprehension. "OH! You have me confused with my sister, Marycles Sueius! No, I am Yentacles Sueius. I am here to show you that Ares is indeed your ONE TRUE LOVE and you must go back to him before it is too late!"

"But he BETRAYED me!" Iolaus protested, fresh tears streaming down his face at the memory.

"NO! ARES LOVES YOU!" Yentacles insisted. "It was all a misunderstanding!"

"It was?" Iolaus whispered, hardly daring to hope that the love of his life did indeed still love him in return.

"YES! Now you must go back to him!"

Iolaus could not speak for long moments, so great was his joy at this news. Finally he hugged her again, this time in gratitude and not out of any desire for her. As exquisite as she was he knew his true destiny lay with Ares. "THANK YOU, Yentacles Sueius!" He sobbed through tears of gratitude. "Without you I NEVER would have known the terrible mistake I was about to make. Tell Marycles Sueius hello for me when you see her again, and let her know I have found TRUE happiness!" Then Iolaus ran from the cliff.

"I will," Yentacles called after him, "but she's calling herself 'Xena' now."

But Iolaus was already too far away to hear her, anxious to tell Ares that they were indeed meant to be together for eternity.

-----

Epilogue:
 

Everyone had shown for the wedding. Even Hercules, after a long, deep struggle with issues from his childhood had decided that Iolaus deserved this happiness and Ares was not such a bad person after all. All of Olympus had turned out to see the two happy couples get married. Strife was beginning to show his "condition" but he looked absolutely radient and Cupid was every bit the proud father/husband.

Standing before Zeus -- who looked completely thrilled that his family was together for this joyus event -- Strife and Cupid gave their vows, and then it was Iolaus and Ares' turn. But they had written vows expecially for this occasion.

"I will love you forever, my sweet Golden Hunter," Ares promised in a heartfelt tone.

"And I you, my adorable sugarmuffin," Iolaus swore, his soft blue eyes filled with love for his gentle God of War.

Then, in the most profound expression of their boundless love and devotion to each other, they began to sing an exquisite duet that brought tears to the eyes of every listener: