Sons of Troy
Author's note
This story is about how the war might have turned out if Hector had won the Legendary duel with Achilles in front of the walls of Troy. This is my first fanfiction that I have uploaded yet, so be gentle with any reviews you send in, but still tell me what I need to work on, cheers
Chapter 1
"HECTOR!"
The cry echoed across the golden walls of Troy, sweeping over the battlements, the soldiers and the Trojan nobles standing in the royal viewing box. The call slowly faded into the air around the city, but the challenge it had raised, nor the fear that now seeped into a number of the Trojans atop the walls, did not.
Hector, Crown Prince of Troy and General of all her armies stood watching the lone Greek soldier who now stood waiting outside the gate, standing by the chariot he had arrived in. As the prince watched the Greek bellowed out again "HECTOR!" The figure was too small to see who it was but Hector did not need the oracle of Delphi to tell him who it was that was yelling his name. It was Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis, commander of the Myrmidons, the greatest warriors in the World.
When Odysseus, King of Ithaca, had told Hector that the young Greek warrior he had killed on the Trojan beach yesterday was Achilles' cousin, Hector had known that this would come. When he had met Achilles in the Temple of Apollo on the first day of battle of this accursed war, he had learned much of the Greek Champion. He had learned that Achilles was ruthless in his slaughter of the unarmed priests. The Achilles was vain and arrogant beyond measure in the way he regarded the Trojan Prince and the sneer with which he had answered Hector's mention of the now widowed wives at Troy. First and Foremost he had learned that Achilles (unlike himself) didn't fight for his country, he fought for himself and for glory when he spoke of his soon to be immortal name. But one thing of virtue he had learned was that Achilles cared and loved his men and that is men in return loved him. To kill his cousin, one to young by rights to be in a battle wouldn't go unanswered.
Hector heaved a sigh of submission and turned to his father, Priam High King of Troy and knelt down before him. "Father, forgive me for any offense's, I have served you as best I could". Priam kissed his son's forehead and gave his blessing to him for the battle head. "May the Gods be with you" Priam said in a voice that to any other might have seemed indifferent
To what was going on in the world right now. Some of the nobles were looking at the king out of the corners of their eyes with a expression of silent reproach at what they took to be their King sending his son and heir to die without a second thought. But Hector knew otherwise. Anyone who didn't know the king as well as his sons wouldn't have seen it. But Hector heard the subtle note of love and pride with which Priam regarded his son before him. As Hector rose to go his father grasped at his arm and stood up "Hector, no father ever had a better son".
Hector took a moment to compose himself after that. He turned to Locas General of Troy and one of his closest companions on the battlefield. "Apollo guard you my Prince" Locas said with respect. Hector grasped his forearm in a show of mutual respect.
Hector turned then to his younger brother Paris. Hector, while he had agreed to defend his brother in the war he had started with Greece. Whenever he looked at the dead or the wounded on the battlefield, Or heard the cries of widowed wives and orphaned children in the night, he couldn't help being angry with his brother for causing this war for a woman. Now however all he felt was love for his reckless little brother and sadness at the thought that this would be the last time they are together.
"You're the best man I know" Paris whispered with a chocking voice (Hector could tell he was fighting tears). Hector embraced his brother and when they drew apart hector replied "you're a prince of Troy; I know you will make me proud".
Hector kissed his brother's forehead and left without letting Paris reply. Hector didn't want this to be more difficult than it already was for his family.
Hector turned out of the doorway leading to the staircase he had just descended and moved toward the gateway. Andromache his beloved wife rose to meet him, carrying their infant son Astyanax in her arms.
Hector had seen what might happen if he died. Without him the Trojan Army would be leaderless and the people would be devastated. He didn't honestly know if the city would stand. If the Greeks got inside the walls it was over. All the men would be killed, children would be slaughtered, and the women would be raped and taken as slaves, and Hector wouldn't see that happen to his family. Priam and Paris already knew the secret way out of the city but he had shown his wife last night along with his fears and warnings. Embracing his wife he whispered "You remember what I told you?".
"You don't have to go, you don-" Hector interrupted "you remember what I told you?". When she nodded slowly he kissed her and his son and walked past, hearing his son's crying following him as he went.
Hector stood before the city gates, waiting for the soldiers to finish unbarricading it. As he waited he felt eyes upon him from the back. Turning he saw Helen standing on the deserted street. Many in troy blamed Helen for causing the war, and while Hector did as well to start with, when Paris first revealed her to him at sea, he had come to think differently. Agamemnon wanted Troy for power and riches not his brother's wife, Helen had just been the excuse he needed to declare it. Helen looked at Hector in sadness and lowered he head as if in mourning, which (Hector figured) was probably fitting.
Hector picked up his spear and shield, donned his helmet and turned to face the city gates. It was not fear that gripped him, only a heightened sense of things. His wife Andromache had told him he didn't have to go, but hector knew it didn't matter. Achilles would stay outside the walls of Troy all day, and the next day, and every day until the end of the war, if not the end of his life. Hector heard that in the Cry that once again washed over the walls, Achilles would never rest until he had killed Hector and avenged Patroclus. Whatever feelings Achilles possessed besides his hunt for glory, friendship, loyalty, laughter, maybe even love, it didn't matter. Right now those feelings were dead, only vengeance had a place in him now. If the Gods willed that Hector fight Achilles then so be it, Always the warrior to the end Hector would rather meet his fate head on with his sword drawn, then hideaway in Troy a moment longer. The gate opened, and Hector stepped out.
Hector surveyed the Greek in front of him, Achilles was his height and equally muscular. But the mocking laugh that had been on his face last time they met was gone, to be replaced by a hardened look that hector knew just masked the pain and rage he was feeling beneath the surface
"I have seen this moment in my dreams; I will make a pact with you. With the gods as our witnesses, let us pledge that the winner will allow the loser funeral rituals" said Hector.
"There are no pacts between lions and men" Achilles snarled. He tossed his helmet away across the sandy floor and faced the Prince. "Now you know who you're fighting".
Hector removed his helmet and raised his shield. He turned back to face Achilles defiance etched into his face. "I thought it was you I was fighting yesterday, and I wish it had been you". (This was true, when hector pulled of the helmet and looked into the tear stained years of the dying boy, he felt revolted with himself. For the ever honourable Hector, to kill one so young, even in war was unforgivable. If it had been Achilles he had killed before the combined Greek and Trojan Armies, before his beloved Myrmidons, Hector would have looked at his corpse and smiled. But the Fates decreed otherwise) "but I gave the boy the honour he deserved".
"You gave him the honour of your sword" Achilles spat back "You won't have eyes tonight; you won't have ears or a tongue. You will wander the underworld blind, deaf and dumb and all the dead will know, this is Hector, the fool who thought he killed Achilles"
Achilles raised his spear and advanced on the Prince. And Hector feeling disgusted with the Greek's words, and the vainglories warrior himself. Picked up his spear, entrusted his fate to the will of the gods and stepped out to meet the Greek Champion.