Upon The Shores of Troy

Anacleta doubled over and braced her hands on her knees, drawing breath into her burning lungs. Somewhere in the background, she registered her shoes sinking into the sand and the waves splashing on the rocks. In that moment though, Anacleta, also called Lee, was only concerned with breathing. The twenty-two year old woman had just finished her five mile run across Coronado beach and her muscles were screaming in protestation.

Lee had finally started her forced one week vacation. Only two weeks ago, Lee had come back home from deployment and still she went straight to work. Most of the other recruits had taken at least a few days off to spend time with their families or just to relax. Lee, however, did not want to follow their example. Ever since her ex-boyfriend of three years had left her, Lee's home had been empty. It was actually during her deployment that she found out. They had been on a brief video call and he'd simply told her that he didn't feel like waiting around for her anymore. It'd hurt like hell that he gave up like that but she didn't really have a choice. So, she'd been a big girl about it and she had let him go.

However, Chief Petty Officer Erica Johnson would not take "no" for an answer and "ordered" Lee to take a good week off. At the time, Lee felt like sulking. The image of her lonely apartment played in her mind, really forcing her into a bad mood. When Lee thought about it now however, she was kind of grateful. Now she had time to go running and try to reconnect with friends she hadn't seen in months.

So, that's what brought her to the beach at 0500 (5 AM). It was now 0530, and Lee was finally catching her breath. As the woman straightened her back and began her cool down stretches, she took note of her surroundings. The sun was slowly rising over the horizon, causing the water to glow a pale red mixed with yellow. There were a few sparse clouds hanging in the morning sky but not enough to block the warm sun. Other than herself, there wasn't another another soul in sight and for this Lee was grateful.

Again Lee brought her mind to the task at hand and continued to stretch her tight and over-worked muscles. Finally feeling content with her newly relaxed muscles, Lee unceremoniously plopped her bottom on the warm sand. A quick glance at her watch revealed that it was now 0600 and Lee figured that a few more minutes of laziness and enjoying the peaceful beach would do no harm. With this in mind, Lee fully relaxed into the earth and gazed out towards the lapping water. Immediately something caught her eye. Far out into the water there was a woman who appeared to be about the same age as Lee. Long dark curls framed her beautiful tanned face yet that wasn't all that odd however. First, instead of swimming towards the shore, the woman was treading water. Second, the woman was staring Lee down with the most hypnotizing electric blue eyes she had ever seen. The two women's eyes stayed focused on each other and abruptly Lee was compelled to do something but she didn't know what, even when her body began to move of it's own accord.

It didn't register in Lee's mind that she had gotten up and began stalking towards the ocean. Lee felt as if she was watching and feeling someone else wading into the cold water, as they gazed into the mysterious woman's eyes. Higher and higher the cold sea rose until Lee's body had to tread water as well. The two women were close enough now that all one of them had to do was reach out to touch the other.

"You, Anacleta, will save my son Achilles," the melodic voice and it's words did not record in Lee's mind yet her head nodded anyways in compliance.

Upon seeing this action, the beautiful woman sunk below the water and Lee panicked as she finally became conscious of her whereabouts. She did not have time to dwell on the fact that she didn't know how she'd gotten into the water however because at that moment, a monstrous wave came barreling towards Lee's small form. In a moment Lee had turned her body and began frantically attempting an escape. It was too late however for the wave had already begun to drag her out and soon it was on top of her. The sheer weight of the thing smashed into Lee and almost seemed to crush her already tired lungs. Repeatedly the wave tumbled Lee's body, pushing her further and further away from the precious surface. Soon, her lungs began to burn with the need for oxygen yet she could not fight her way up.

Suddenly, it felt as if two hands grabbed at Lee's arms and pulled her towards the surface and shore. Relief flooded Lee's fogged mind for a moment as she felt wet sand under her drained body and coughed up the water that had been sucked down her windpipe. The rejoicing lasted only a moment though before Lee blacked out completely.

It was a peaceful day in Troy, despite the cloud of dread that hung about Prince Hector's shoulders. His brother Paris had convinced Helen of Sparta to follow them to Troy and become his own wife, though she was already married to King Menelaus. Anger had swelled in Hector's heart when Paris had revealed Helen's presence on their Trojan ship. How could his brother throw away everything their father had worked so hard to achieve? How could he put his own desires before the welfare of his country? Hector could not answer his own question yet Paris had. Paris said he was in love. At first the idea had made Hector snort in disgust. Paris had always gone from town to town, bedding any pretty and willing maiden, the boy could not possibly know anything about love. Still, the more Hector watched Paris with his beloved Helen, the more the prince realized that perhaps his brother really was in love. It was a difficult medicine to swallow considering it would bring havoc upon innocent lives.

Hastily the young prince stopped the turmoil in his mind at that final thought. Hector did not ride out to the shores to brood. He knew for a fact that these last few days should be treated as sacred. Once the Greeks came, Hector would have no peace until the war was over. Consequently, Hector decided to commit every meaningful place in Troy to his memory, in case he fell.

The beach was his first sanctuary, as it had been for many people. The calming sounds of the lapping cerulean waves could soothe even the most riotous soul. One could gaze out over the horizon and never tire of the serene picture. To add to the cause, the sand between one's toes always seemed to be warm and welcoming. If one was to lay on the beach without a care, the gentle breeze would caress their bodies and lull them into an untroubled slumber. Yes, the shores of Troy was something that Hector insisted on fully enjoying again. Hector halted his horse as he closed his deep brown eyes to fully take in the harmonious effect of his surrounding home.

When he opened his eyes again, curiosity and cautiousness sparked in Hector's mind. Off in the distance, something lay motionless on the sand. The object was hunched on its side and the ocean's waves pushed and pulled at it. Hector nudged his horse with his heels and the animal slowly trotted up to the object. Dread pooled in the prince's stomach as the distance grew smaller until finally, Hector was able to distinguish what the object was: a woman.

Sickness rose into his throat as the Trojan prince dismounted his horse and knelt next to the girl. Relief flooded his system however when the woman's chest rose and fell with steady breath. She was alive. Now Hector had to decide if she was a Greeks spy. Carefully, he gathered her and hoisted her back onto his lap. Her face was delicate and tanned with a light sprinkling of freckles across her small nose. Long honey-colored hair spiraled down her back and shoulders. The woman's toned body could clearly be seen due to her scraps of clothing. She wore a strange top that was held together by thin straps at each shoulder and her trousers had been cut at the thigh, revealing her long slender legs. On her feet she bore strange sandals that covered the entirety of her foot and looked quite stifling. Without a doubt, she was the oddest woman Hector had ever seen.

Reminding himself of why he had chosen to inspect her in the first place, Hector then began deliberating on whether or not she was a Greek spy. She had the shape of a warrior that as for sure, on the other hand however, she was not armed and possessed no ship. Hector inspected her again, looking for any signs of the plague. When none were found, Hector decided that he would take her back to the city. The woman did not pose an immediate threat and could be questioned once she awoke.

Gently, so as not to wake her, Hector slipped one arm behind the woman's back and the other under her knees and hoisted her up. Surprise flitted across his face at the lightness of her weight. Despite the muscle mass she possessed, the woman weighed almost nothing. It was very easy to situate her atop his horse and then Hector rose up into the saddle himself. With a flick of his wrists and a click of his tongue, Hector and the woman were on their way to the city of Troy.