Alysa, the widowed daughter of Samarias, had returned to the House of Hope, as Orestesnamed it, to help her father and mother. She suggested a picnic that day, and the entire house was abuzz with excitement. He had planned on accompanying her to help with the children though she rarely needed the help. Samarias had laughed with pride about how well she could control 15 children, fix lunch, and write poetry all at the same time. Her composure was shaken when he returned to the house at midday to announce important business would keep him from going. Alysa sat down tearfully as the smaller ones gathered around her; she couldn't explain it to her father at this time, but she really needed him this day. She had her eyes closed when a new commotion surged through the orphanage like a wave crashing on the ocean. Alysa's eyes flew open as a handsome blond man full of life and light whirled through the room.

Iolaus giggled as he seemed to collect children as he walked into the house. Samarias was more than pleased to see him and hoped Iolaus would brighten up the dark mood that had begun to gather in his daughter's heart. When he reached her, Iolaus tried to extend a hand of greeting to her, but collapsed in giggles as he realized his current state. Alysa marveled at the sight. "How could 15 children manage to attach themselves physically to one man?" she uttered in awe. Iolaus laughed harder and louder as the children pounced on him to tickle and wrestle with this favored man.

"Okay! Okay! I give up! Let me breathe!" Iolaus said breathlessly. The children finally relented as Alysa's mother entered the room with strict orders to let Iolaus rest for a moment. She chased them out of the room by asking them to join her in the kitchen to prepare for the picnic. "Whew! That was rough." Samarias laughed harder at Iolaus's declaration.

"Yes, I believe sometimes small children can be as challenging as a hydra. Iolaus, have you met my daughter, Alysa?" Samarias asked as he gave Iolaus a hand up.

Iolaus straightened himself up and extended his hand to her, "I don't believe I've had the honor. Alysa, your father is an amazing man. It's wonderful to finally meet his equally amazing daughter." Iolaus raised her hand and gave it a quick kiss at which her father quickly cleared his throat. "Samarias, did I hear your lovely wife mention a picnic? You just know how I love eating outdoors."

He replied with a grin, "Nope Iolaus; you just love eating period." Iolaus grinned and nodded as Samarias continued, "However, perhaps you could be of great service today, my friend. I had planned to accompany Alysa, but the duties of my office require my attention. Do you think you could help her out? I know she could handle 15 children, but I know it would be a comfort to me to have someone go along to help out."

Alysa blushed furiously. She couldn't believe her father was asking a complete stranger, no...a completely gorgeous stranger, to escort her and the children on a picnic. She knew he was a friend of her father's and of the orphanage, but she still felt a bit uneasy with the arrangement. Iolaus just flashed a grin that lit the room, and she suddenly felt she could trust this man. "Iwould consider it a great privilege to picnic with you...and uh...15 children," he pronounced. Alysa giggled herself this time and accepted the offer.

Before they could enter the kitchen, they heard the children cheering. They had overheard Iolaus saying he would go on the picnic with them. The children loved Alysa, but with Iolaus going, the outing promised to be a bit more rowdy and fun. Alysa had just walked through the doorway when Theodorus grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

"Come on, let's go! It's picnic time!" he shouted. Alysa threw back her head and laughed at his cheerfulness.

In a moment they were all out the door laughing and singing. They practically took up the whole street with Alysa and Iolaus carefully centered in the group. Some of the villagers rushed to the door to see if there was a riot. The baker called back to his wife, "Nah, no riot. Iolaus is just in town." and he returned to work as if that explained it all.

The arrived at an ideal place for a picnic, and began to play. "Hey! Iolaus, I thought the idea was to EAT outdoors." called Alysa laughingly.

"Well, these kids need to work up an appetite. Don't you guys?" called back Iolaus. The kids launched a new attack on their hero.

Carmella walked quietly back to where the picnic was laid out and sat on the edge of the blanket. She looked rather wistfully at the other children; then she closed her eyes. Alysa's heart ached when she saw her.

"Carmella, why don't you join the others? I'm just sure they need one more person to bring him down," she suggested. However, Carmella didn't answer her right away. She just sat pulling at the edge of the blanket.

With a sigh way beyond her years, Carmella shook her head. "Daddy always said it shamed him when I played roughly. He said girls shouldn't wrestle or giggle too loudly. I've probably shamed him enough already. Besides, they really don't need me," she stated very calmly. Tears clung to her long eyelashes as she looked to the ground and muttered, "Nobody really needs me."

Alysa reached for the little five year old when a bright light followed by a horrendous explosion rocked the little valley. Iolaus had pulled the children back to the picnic area when the downpour began. The frightened children huddled around Iolaus and Alysa trying desperately not to get drenched. They weren't having much luck since Iolaus, while an excellent playmate, made a lousy shelter for 15 children.

Iolaus looked despairingly around him. They couldn't stay under the tree much longer and not risk being struck by the lightning. Yet, he struggled with where they could find shelter. His eyes strained as he saw something in the distance.

"Come on!" he shouted to Alysa. "There's an old abandoned mine over there. We could stay inthe entrance until this lets up!" he called over the deafening deluge. Alysa agreed and coaxed the children to hold hands and follow Iolaus. The younger ones gathered just behind Iolaus. Alysa thought that would be best since they would be the most likely to be lost. Alysa positioned herself in the middle and held on to the older ones. They had barely made it to the shaft when a bolt of lightning struck the large tree they had been under. The tree fell to the ground as if it were just a toy soldier knocked to the ground.

Iolaus looked to the children and then to Alysa. He felt so responsible for them now, and his heart ached at the sound of the very smallest ones weeping in terror. Iolaus stooped to pull them into his arms to comfort them and became aware of their trembling. At first he thought it was in fear, but it occurred to him that they were shivering, not trembling. He looked to the older ones and noticed they were cold as well. Theodorus stood up and walked over to his hero and said, "What can I do to help, Iolaus?" Theodorus had always been quiet and serious. It was obvious that he spent much of his life in the adult world when he should have been playing. When Iolaus came around, Theodorus allowed himself to play as a child of ten should. Now, however, he felt Iolaus needed him to be back in the adult world.

Iolaus swallowed hard at the declaration of this little guy so willing to help them. The other older ones rose to show their courage as well. He took in a deep breath and said, "We've got to get warm and dry. So I suggest a small fire, just until this rain lets up and we can go back to the orphanage. Look around for any loose dry wood, but don't go very far into the mine. We want to stay close to the entrance where we know it's safe." They all nodded and looked for pieces of wood along the ground.

Iolaus and the others were so intent in looking along the ground that no one noticed little Carmella trying to help. Only, Carmella in a spirit of helpfulness forgot that he said on the ground. She noticed a big piece of broken wood along the entrance of the mine. "This big piece will help keep us all warm, and then everyone will like me and need me." With good intentions born of innocence in her heart, Carmella pulled the wood and the world in on top of them.

Alysa heard the rumbling first and instinctively moved back into the mine away from the entrance. As rock and timber started to collapse in the opening, Iolaus jerked Alysa and the little ones against him. "Get down and put your hands over your heads!" he shouted. Through the dust he could see Carmella screaming and clutching the wooden frame. He jumped for her and pulled the little one out of the way just as a huge boulder imbedded itself where she had been standing. She turned her face into his chest and whimpered, "I'm sorry." He held the little one and whispered comforting words to her as he wondered how they would get out.

Alysa tried to gather her into her arms, but Carmella just backed away from everyone and sat with her face to the wall. She looked to Iolaus as he rose to face a mountain of rocks and timber blocking the way. As the hunter tried to remove one large stone, three more dropped into its place scattering rocks, dust, and small pebbles like rain all around him. He hid his frustration well until that moment. At that moment he pounded the largest boulder with his fist as he bit back many words that would be so appropriate, yet inappropriate at that time. He closed his eyes and leaned against his fist. "How do I get myself in these predicaments?" he lamented under his breath. He became conscious of the sniffling and crying behind him. Iolaus turned to greet the terrified faces of 15 small children and one worried lady.

He put on his bravest face and showed his famous grin as he said, "Everything is going to be okay. Listen," he said trying to cover up his uncertainty, "Hercules and I have been in tougher situations than this. We'll be okay; besides, Alysa, your father will come looking for us before too long."

"Father," she gasped. Samarias would be terribly worried about them being out in the storm.

Alysa stood and tried to pull some of the rocks out of the way. She felt her world closing in. Iolaus stepped forward to gently pull her away.

"Iolaus, I have to get out of here. Father will be terrified, and his heart isn't very strong right now. With all of the pressure of being magistrate and caring for all of us, this may push him over the edge." She was pleading with tears falling freely down her cheeks.

Iolaus pulled her into a warm embrace and whispered, "I know you're worried. I'm worried too, but the children are frightened enough without both of us going into a panic. Right now we've got to focus our energy on keeping these kids calm and finding a way to keep warm." He pulled back and noticed a small shivering half grin return to her tear soaked face. She nodded and noticed the children looking at her with tearful anticipation. Iolaus threw his arms around her one more time and whispered, "I think we've got to get you warm too." When he pulled back this time, he noticed her cheeks turning a deep crimson. "Um, I mean...well, you're wet too...and um. I'm gonna just sit over there with the kids for a minute, okay? Okay."

Carmella instinctively curled herself into a little ball as Iolaus came near her. She was certain everyone would blame her. "Well, they should," she told herself. "If I hadn't acted like I could be the one to help, we'd be safe and warm. Now everyone will hate me, but the worst part is... Iolaus will hate me." A little tear slipped down her face, and Iolaus's hand reached out and captured it. He held out his arms to her, but she pulled away. Carmella looked down at the ground as he waited patiently for her to come to him. Alysa held her breath as she saw Carmella begin to move toward him.

"It's all my fault," she whispered, and she hoped against hope that when she looked into his eyes that she wouldn't see the accusations of her father in them.

"Sweetheart...," Iolaus began.

"Yes! It's all your fault! If you hadn't been trying to be big, we wouldn't have been in this mess. What were YOU doing helping anyway...Iolaus said for us older ones, not for all of the little baby girls to help. Why don't you just go play with a doll! We'll all probably die because of you!" shouted Theodorus.

Her eyes jerked up to see his face and was wounded by the vicious look in his eyes. She glanced at the others; some had their eyes downcast, but there were those who narrowed their eyes and mirrored Theodorus's. When she looked to Iolaus, he was frowning. She gasped and turned from them all running further into the mine. How was she to know that Iolaus was frowning at Theodorus? All she knew was that she wanted to be lost forever. She already felt that way anyway.

Iolaus turned to Theodorus and said, "We'll talk later, Son. Alysa, I feel a draft coming from somewhere; it must be safe to go ahead and build a fire. Theodorus, can you do this for the others?" Theodorus only ducked his head and nodded sheepishly. "Good; I'm trusting you to help Alysa with the others. I've got to go find Carmella."

Iolaus turned and followed the footprints in the loose dirt of the mine. Theodorus raised his eyes to watch him head in the direction Carmella took. He was beginning to feel guilty for his little tirade and tearfully turned to Alysa. He was quite surprised when she put her arms around him. "I'm so sorry, Alysa. I've really messed up. I wasn't thinking."

"I know, Theodorus. I'm sure Iolaus knows as well. How about starting that fire for us? Even though we're all freezing." reassured Alysa, " we're going to be okay." She briefly rested her head on his dark unruly mop and gently squeezed his shoulder before releasing him to built the fire. It took little time for him to get it warm and glowing, and Alysa thought that the light and warmth made the manmade cavern less frightening to the children. She hoped Iolaus would find Carmella quickly so she could feel less frightened herself.