ATN 3: THE JAR IN THE MAZE

GERARD JUSTIFIES

When I woke up, I saw people around me in my room. I was lying on the bed I had slept on ever since coming to Themiscyra. Iris, Tina, Dadai, Abhro and Delilah were all here. As soon as I woke up, however, I was reminded of Gerard's sacrifice. I sat up quickly, "Gerard?"

None answered. I asked again, "Is he fine?"

"He is. He regained consciousness soon after. Only you had been out all day." Delilah said.

"I know he is fine." I said, putting out my concern, "I meant his eyes. Are his eyes fine?"

Delilah moved her head from left to right. I laid down again in disappointment. In my anger, I threw my pillow on the ground. "It should have been me. I had made the error. I should have sacrificed. And now the person who had no fault is sitting there blind. This is unfair."

"Gerard told us what you wanted to sacrifice." Iris said, frowning, "Your magic. How did you think that you could sacrifice that? How do you expect us to win without your magic?"

"Magic is not the only way."

"It is." Iris said, "Did you forget what the Fates told you? You were supposed to fight Jared Wilson, in one v one dual. That Jared Wilson who, no one knows how, has hurt the gods in every way, and knows how to kill us and destroy the world. You can't beat him without your magic. It is your magic that gives you an edge over him."

"So I am nothing without it?"

"Don't say that." Iris said, "It is your guilty conscience that is making you say this. They are not your words. You knew your friends would suffer for your mistakes, and you didn't want that. That is why you wanted to sacrifice anything to save them. But you forgot the words of the Fates."

"I would have taken him down even without magic. He has no super power."

"But he is definitely a better warrior." Iris said, "And your magic is what makes you stronger. Lets say that you fought him without magic. He is invulnerable now. Do you have any idea about his weak point? No."

I didn't say anything. I actually had no words to say. "Plus, he wanted to sacrifice it himself." Delilah said, "I think we should all respect his decision. He says he has a good reason."

"What good reason?" I asked, and got out of bed, "I want to see him."

Ten minutes later, Tina and Queen Delilah had taken me to Gerard. When we walked in, Gerard was sitting on a couch, with a disc in his hands. "Gerard, look, Jay's here." Delilah said.

"Jay?" He stood up, clearly trying to find me in his own darkness, "Are you alright, buddy?"

I wanted to tell him I was sorry. I wanted to tell him that he had been stupid. I wanted to thank him, because, despite barely knowing me for about a month, out of which, nearly twenty days had been spent with me inside the Labyrinth, he had trusted me enough to sacrifice his own eyes for me. But I couldn't find the words. I couldn't see his condition. Gerard kept calling my name, but I couldn't say that I was here. I was losing it.

Tears came out of my eyes, and I turned and left. Tina came behind me. She caught up with me, and asked, "Jay, what's wrong?"

"I can't lead this team, Tina." I said, crying, "Look how blessed I am. I have, in my possession, people who have seen for mere ten days, and have trusted me enough, that they found my powers indispensable. And look at me. I, in my complete loss of mind, made an error that costed Gerard his eyes. How am I a good leader?"

"Why do you forget that your error brought your brother back to life?"

"It also costed him his eyes."

"Jay, please calm down." Tina came close to me, and held my hands, "There is a saying. Everything happens for good." I sat down on the corridor, and curled myself in Tina's arms. She hugged me tightly, and said, "We need your power. Now that the Ophiotaurus is dead, and its entrails had been burned, Jared won't stop at anything. We need you to rise."

A moment later, Tina helped me stand again, and said, "Come on. Lets get to the Citadel. Delilah must have taken Gerard there. It's time to discuss our new step."

"Good idea." I said. Bad idea!

As soon as I stepped foot into the Citadel, whispers started. Only among the Amazons. I heard them talk about how irresponsible I was, how I was not fit to be a leader. Someone even accused me of faking the sacrifice of my powers. I saw Tina make a vicious snarl. Had I not stopped her, she would have broken that girl's nose. 

Even the Amazon Queen had heard it. I looked at her, to which she signaled me not to hear. And as soon as we settled down, she walked up to the stage, and said, "For the last ten minutes or so, I heard some whispers. Whispers about someone not being fit to lead us in this war. Whispers about him being a fraud. Anyway, I guess Gerard has to say something about that."

Gerard was sitting on a chair. He had a full black goggle on. He sat beside Dadai and Abhro. He turned towards everyone and said, "Are you girls out of your mind? I mean, seriously? He couldn't have faked it. It's a magical ritual. There is nothing fake about it. You either do it, or you don't. And I heard him talk about the ritual with the polecat. What was her name?"

"Gale." I said.

More whispers. Polecat? Where did a polecat come from?

"The polecat," Gerard said, "used to be a nurse in the chambers of Alcmene. She, trying to help her Queen, tricked Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth, so that Heracles was born first. Whatever it was, it was very complicated. She did it, and Eileithyia turned her into a polecat, before Hecate took her under her wing. But that's not important. The important thing is, I knew what I was doing. And I have a good reason to let my eyes go."

"What is that?" Delilah asked.

"Next time Jay and Tina go in the Labyrinth, I am going with them. The prophecy specifically mentions that a son of Thetis will release Hope into the world. Which is me. And since Pandora's box is under the care of Medusa, not having eyes gives me an edge."

Wow! The boy had thought so much. But how did he plan to kill the gorgon, if he didn't even see her indirectly? But this was not a question for now. He had supported me in my time of need. Now, it was my turn. Delilah asked me, "What do you think?"

"I think it is not a bad idea. But Gerard alone won't be able to handle himself. We will need another person. One who can take care of him, like, be his bodyguard. Because I will be operating the string. Tina would be in look out for threats. Another person can protect Gerard."

"Yeah, I get that." Gerard said, "Someone who can be around me, understand me."

"Me!" Urwa raised her hand, "I will go with you guys."

"My commander!" Delilah said, "Are you sure? We might need you here."

"I am sure that you will be able to deal with them, Queen. You are a better fighter than me."

Delilah nodded, and looked at Iris. She asked, "My Lady! Is this a good step?"

"Do you trust Jay?" Iris asked.

"We do."

"Then trust his plans. His plans don't usually fail. The four of them will be alright."

Delilah nodded, and turned to everyone. She addressed all of us, and said, "So, your Queen trusts the leaders chosen by the gods. One of them is my sister. And I trust whoever she trusts. Not many can go through a journey through the Labyrinth, and to the Fates, all alone. He did it. It is his fate to fight Wilson one on one. So, we have to trust him. He is our best shot. And those of you who don't, start trusting him. Because at this time of war, this is all we can do."

I felt like my cheeks would explode in embarrassment. I surely felt better, as Delilah dismissed the meeting, and we got up from there. I had the Queen's trust, I had Atlantis's trust, and I had my friends. We were ready enough.