I remember going to see this film when it first came out, this is the film that led me to my passion of Greek mythology (I was only a child at the time so didn't understand it wasn't entirely accurate!) While watching it the other night, in another attempt to procrastinate through essays, it gave me an idea for another fanfiction. Since this is based on the film there will be inaccuracies (and I apologise…but blame Disney!) This is set before the film, but also before my other fanfiction (which is obviously less innacurate – Hade's Bride).

Just a small note, after the film Disney released a TV series set before the film while Hercules was at school. They revealed in the series a bit about their Meg's past and that it was Adonis she used to date, I've used this theory for the story – but nothing else about her past from Disney.

I own none of the characters within this story!

Chapter One

It was an exceptionally hot day, the sky was a brilliant azure blue and the sun was a ball of pure molten gold. A young woman sat on her knees, she wore a lilac peplos which she had altered to leave her arms bare and cool against the scorching sun. Two straps were secured by old coins which had been deemed worthless; a darker purple material was strung around a narrow waist to accentuate her slender hips. Pausing from her task the young woman sat back and wiped her bare arm across her forehead, pushing back a stray lock of mahogany hair from her eyes.

"Megara!" At the sound of her name she jumped to her feet startling the goat that she had been milking. She straightened her dress and tried to brush the dead grass from the fabric, she smiled as a tanned man approached her. His teeth shone like pearls against his tanned face.

"Your highness, you know to call me Meg." She teased him coyly as he took her hand and brushed his lips along it.

"And you know better than to call me 'highness'." He scolded lightly in returning, "Come for a walk with me?"

"I should not Adonis; I still have my chores to finish." She flinched as the blue-eyed prince scowled at her, but she could hardly abandon her chores in favour of a walk. You do not realise how lucky you are that the prince has chosen you of all girls. A small voice chided her, should she really be risking his wrath by refusing his company? "Perhaps later this evening? If I neglect my chores now then you will have one less jug of milk tomorrow at the palace." She rested her hand against his broad chest and looked up at him seductively through her eyelashes, her amethyst eyes sparkling mischievously.

"I cannot tonight; there is an engagement at the palace which I cannot miss. Come, I will not take no for an answer." Meg sighed but allowed him to pull her along; he led her into a thicket of woodland where they were shaded from the brutal heat of the sun.

At the age of eighteen Meg knew she was lucky to have Adonis, she was the daughter of a farmer who had been widowed several years previously. Adonis could have chosen any of the girls from their village, he could have chosen a princess from a far-off land, instead he had chosen her. Often he spoke to her about marriage, shrugging off that the only dowry she could bring him was a handful of goats and clay plates. Of course his time was more important than hers; she could easily make up for her slacking later on. She fought back a protest as Adonis pulled her down onto the grass, his hands worked its way into her mahogany hair, pulling it lose from its high ponytail. His lips were soft yet urgent against hers, it was as if he could not bear for their lips to be parted for a single moment.

"Adonis please," Meg whispered turning her head so that his lips began tickling against her neck. He ignored her protests and tilted her head back towards his, she could see his sapphire eyes staring at her possessively. No longer did his blonde hair seem warm, it was as cold as ice and sent chills running through her. "I should get back," she whispered desperately.

"Is this the behaviour of a wife?" The question sent her head spinning, her nerves tingled with excitement but coldness flooded her veins.

"Of course it is not – but I am not your wife." Meg forced her plump lips to curve up into a teasing smile, trying to regain her composure before he completely lost interest. She ran her hand down his muscled bicep on his right arm and pressed her lips against his once more. "I would not want to do anything to dishonour myself, but more important I do not want to dishonour you." She straightened his toga for him as they stood up.

"How would doing as I want dishonour me?" He asked waspishly.

"You would rather have a wife you took so easily in a thicket?" She arched an eyebrow as she rested against a tree. "Would you not grow to resent such a wife? How do you know you were the first one to take her, that she had not given herself so easily to another?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm but a small voice in the back of her mind told her she was treading on dangerous ground. If she did anything to jeopardise Adonis's trust or feelings for her, she would certainly lose him. "Adonis I love you," she whispered moving against him and draping her arms around his neck. "I would never do anything to displease you, but I cannot destroy my reputation or give myself to you so easily. I love you too much to discard a moment so valuable." At first she felt Adonis tense but slowly she felt his muscles relax as his hands clasped her slender waist.

"You are far too smart for a woman," he teased her lightly and brushed his lips across hers. He deepened the kiss until she was pressed against the tree once more, his hips keeping her firmly held against the thick trunk, she could feel his desire hardening against her leg and she began to panic – she wasn't sure she could talk her way of this predicament again! Thankfully he pulled away allowing her to breathe. "Go back to your chores; I will come for you tomorrow evening. Pack lightly."

"Pack?"

"I want you to be my wife Megara, I do not care who approves or does not. I would suffer Zeus's wrath if it meant I could die as your husband." Meg flinched at his blasphemy but her lips were curving into an unstoppable smile. "Tomorrow night meet me here, we will travel to the temple of Zeus and there I will take you as my wife."She felt excitement beginning to bubble in her stomach. Do not be foolish Megara, she told herself. He is a prince, and you a farmer's daughter…he would never be able to marry you. Even if he truly wanted that. But no matter how hard the voice in her head tried to insist his news would be nothing of the sort, her heart couldn't help but swell in hope.

"Tomorrow," she whispered her amethyst eyes sparkling with tears of joy. She held his face and kissed him passionately, when he left she fell to her knees, unable to stop the grin from spreading across her face.

The next day dragged on, the shadows didn't seem to change at all and Meg was convinced that the sun-god Apollo had decided to take the day off. She could just about picture him in his golden chariot, hovering high above in the sky as he sat back and relaxed. She cooked dinner for herself and her father, but they sat in silence as they enjoyed their meal. He had long ago ceased to enquire after her day, how she spent her free time. A few times he had broached the subject of her marrying, but she had grown hysterical and he had quickly dropped the subject. She longed to marry. But she wanted to marry Adonis. She had never confided in her father that she harboured feelings for their prince; of course the man knew she was in love with the prince – what girl wasn't? But how could she tell him that her love for Adonis was real? And that he truly loved her back?

Wait for Adonis, she told herself. She would hear his news tonight, perhaps then she could finally confess to her father what was going on in her life. But why worry him until then? Will he truly wish to marry me? He knows father cannot afford the dowry that comes with such a marriage.

"Meg?" She looked up realising that she had just audibly sighed.

"I am sorry papa, I am just restless." She finished the remainder of her meal in silence, kissed her father on the cheek and fetched a shawl. "I am going for a walk, I will not be late…I just need to get rid of some energy." Before he could protest she hurried down the path away from their small home, she followed the worn track until it began to curve towards the main city. She wandered off the path and towards the forest, the sun had almost set and a slight chill was growing in the air. She sat with her back against the tree that he had pressed her against earlier the previous day and waited tensely for his appearance. She wasn't sure how much time passed, if it was minutes or hours, but she began to fear that he wasn't coming. She curled up and wrapped her shawl tighter against her person, somewhere in the forest she heard an owl begin to hoot. Where is he? She rested her head against the tree and closed her eyes.

"Megara!" She awoke with a start, her limbs were stiff from being curled so long and she was damp with dew. Shivering Meg tried to stand up, but her limbs were too sore. "Megara!" She recognised her father's voice an called out to him, reaching out she managed to grasp a low hanging branch to pull herself up. "Thank the gods!" He clasped her tightly, his eyes were red from crying and she suddenly realised she must have fallen asleep. "What in the name of Athena possessed you to sleep out in the forest? You know how dangerous it is! You could have….anything…"

"Father I am fine…I am sorry, I only wanted to go for a walk. I must have fallen asleep by mistake…"

"It does not matter, you are safe." He held her tightly before beginning to pull her to the forest exit. "We must hurry, there has been tragic news from the city." Meg's blood froze in her veins, she knew what was coming and she braced herself for her father's words. "The prince, he is dying…"