The Glory That Is Rome (a Percy Jackson AU)

Meeting Hera

    Hera greeted them coldly. Will noticed that there were dark circles beneath her eyes and she was glaring at Frank and him in particular.

    "Did Octavian send you here to send my children?" Hera asked. "That's not needed. Eileithyia has already embraced Hades and Hebe will join her soon."

   "Luke already fired the entire Praetorian Guard," Frank said. 

    "We're here because you're right; Hebe should be on the throne," Jason said.

     "Your daughter is sick?" Will asked.

     Hera nodded and said, "I discovered that one the slaves Luke sent with me was poisoning my daughters. She has the same symptoms that Theseus did."

    "Let me help," Will urged.

    Hera hesitated.

    "If Hebe dies, I give you the right to slit my throat," Will swore.

     Hera nodded and led them in .

    "Why did you say that?" Nico whispered.

    "It was the only way to gain her trust,"  Will said.

     "But if Hebe dies . . ." Nico said.

     "It's a risk I am willing to take." Will said.

    "We'll do our best to help him," Piper promised Nico.

       When Will saw Hebe, he was concerned that Nico was right. Rome's future would die along with Hebe. He examined her and saw that it was not as bad as he feared. Her breathing was shallow, but her pulse was still steady and she wasn't running a temperature.

     Will had Jason run to the ship to fetch his herbs. In the meantime, he boiled tea. By the time Jason returned, Will was ladling tea into Hebe's mouth. Hera watched him with beady eyes.

     "What herbs will you give her?" Hera asked.

     "Yarrow to make her expel the poison and juniper berries for strength," Will said. "Jason, can you boil some more mint tea? It will be help settle her stomach. Put some honey in it so it soothes her throat."

    Will mixed the yarrow with water and mushed it up. He spoon fed the mixture to Hebe. She swallowed it easily. Will turned to Nico and asked, "Can you grab a bowl? This is going to be messy Piper, can you wet a strip of linen? Make sure the water is cool, but not cold and that the cloth is damp and not dripping."

     "What does you mean this will be messy?" Hera demanded. "Don't you dare harm my daughter or I'll have your head."

    "I know," Will said. "I made that perfectly clear already."

     Nico's lips twitched, but Will's gaze traveled to Hebe. She was moaning and her eyes flickered open. She sat up and Nico brought up the clay bowl. Hebe heaved until her stomach was empty and laid back down. Will cleaned her face and Piper placed a strip of damp linen on her brow.

     Will gave her two juniper berries to eat. Hebe obliged readily. She was twenty-five years old, but she had a round face and in her sick bed, she looked more like an older child than a woman. Will gave her the tea and she sipped it. Hera stood by her daughter's bed.

    "Thanks," she said dully, her eyes drooping. "Mom, how is sister?"

   "Hebe, I'm glad you're doing better," Hera said, stroking her daughter's hair. "Your sister is dead."

    Tears leaked out of Hebe's eyes and Hera gave her daughter a hug and said, "I am blessed to still have you. This kind physician saved you and he's promised that you will be the empress you were born to be."

    "I'm not marrying him!" Hebe exclaimed.

     Nico started laughing manically. Jason and Piper soon joined in and soon everyone was laughing except Hebe, Hera, and Will. Will was afraid his friends had been possessed by evil spirits.

    "Umm, that was never the plan," Will said. "I have a male lover."

    "Even better," Hera said. "Hebe can choose whomever she wants once she becomes empress."

   "I think I still need to rest first," Hebe said.

   Everyone laughed. There was sorrow in the air, but hope too. Luke would have to watch out because the rebellion would be launched soon.