Retelling of Achilles and Briseis love affair.
Briseis watched the two figures on horses race up the sandy beach with eager excitement. Paris and Hector were coming home today. Her two handsome cousins, loved princes of Troy. "Watching for your cousins?" a voice asked from her right. Briseis turned swiftly; it was her cousin's lovely wife Andromache.
"Yes," Briseis admitted smiling, gliding her hand along the alabaster stone. "I miss them. Their lively presence is missed from the halls of the palace." Andromache nodded, her eyes scanning the golden beach for her approaching husband.
"You also want to see their reaction to your choice of wearing the virgin robes, do you not?" Andromache asked, her arm going around the shoulder of the younger girl.
"Yes, not many approve of me being an acolyte in Apollo's temple but my decision is made. I could not be happier," Briseis, said confidently a smile easing across her innocent features.
"Many will be sorely disappointed," Andromache teased. Briseis giggled, shaking her head.
"I serve the sun god now." Silence settled for the two as they watch the sun lift higher in the sky and Hector and Paris get closer to the palace. However, there was another figure with them now. She had shining hair that reminded Briseis of a gold necklace her mother used to wear when she was young.
"Who's that woman?" Andromache inquired concernedly, although Briseis would have no way of even knowing.
"Probably another one of Paris's conquests," Briseis replied carelessly, watching the woman's hair with amazement. Andromache smiled, her laughter ringing up to the birds.
"The way you speak about Paris, you have no shame."
"It's the truth and everyone knows it. He's bedded about every woman in Troy with the exception of his family. It's no ill kept secret."
"True," Andromache agreed. "But he's so free and jovial. It doesn't matter, Troy is his."
"Almost," Briseis stopped looking up at her older cousin with respect. "You miss Hector dreadfully, don't you?"
"Of course," Andromache replied, studying the young 17 year old. "Does it show that much?"
"You pick at your food at dinner and your figure becomes slimmer each day he is gone," Briseis whispered.
"I worry too much."
"I know that, but Hector will be home. He always comes back. He's the best warrior in all of Troy, Andromache. And he has something in Troy that he could never leave."
"What?"
"You."
"Oh Briseis, how could anyone resist your charm and caring ways. Thank you. You're one of the only friends I have to talk to and confide in. I don't know what I'd do without you here."
"Don't fret cousin. The times of peace are near. Hector is here to stay by your side." A slight vibration swept through the walls and floor, making all who felt it look to the doors to the city of Troy.
"They're here!" Briseis yelled, causing nearby roosting birds to fly away in fear. "Oh Andromache they're finally home!" Andromache's heart started racing and she ran down the stairs without a word to Briseis who was giggling at the sight of her cousin flying down the stairs to fall into the arms of her handsome husband.
Briseis soon followed in suit, her white toga flying as she entered the Entrance Hall to greet her princes. Paris's smiled when he saw his adorable cousin, her face flushed from running. "Briseis! Beloved cousin, your beauty grows with each new moon." She blushed, dipping her knees in reference.
Hector approached her with Andromache; his arms open to greet her. She grinned and hugged her eldest cousin, his chin scraping the top of her head. "Did you miss me little swan?" he asked, pinching her sleeves. Briseis nods with happiness. Comfort at last spreading throughout her. "A servant of Apollo now?"
"The young men were devastated when she chose the virgin robes," King Priam interrupted. Briseis flushed magenta with embarrassment.
"Uncle!" she scolds with a sheepish grin. King Priam laughs heartily and kisses his niece's forehead. Briseis left the entrance hall disappointed not to meet the fair-haired lady. She stood at the veranda for a few scant moments, waiting to see if Andromache will leave also. But she stands with her husband, their fingers entwined and Hector leans down and kisses his wife gently.
Briseis looks away quickly. When Hector and Andromache first married she was jealous of the dark haired princess, stealing Hector always away from her. He never visited Briseis anymore or pulled her hair playfully. In a few weeks, he had suddenly grown up into a man, a king. There wasn't any other room in his new life for his girl cousin.
But after a few months, when Hector would be away on travels Briseis would often find Andromache huddled in a dark corner of the castle, crying quietly. Andromache quickly got used to the feeling of a small hand on her back, or a hug from behind her. Old feelings of contempt were quickly forgotten and the two became friends. After all, Briseis had never had any girl cousins or a mother to teach her the ways of womanhood.
The only jealousy that dwelt in Briseis was for the love that Andromache and Hector shared. He was the most faithful, loyal man Briseis had ever met. Their love was forever, something you couldn't find everyday between a man and a woman.
Discouraged Briseis crept away to her little cousin, Astynax's nursery. "Here little baby," she cooed once she saw him. "I'm sure you want to see your father." The small boy smiled a toothy grin in delight and brought his toe to his mouth in a flexible acrobat as if to say to Briseis 'Look what I can show my daddy!' She laughed and scooped up the child from his cradle. "I'm taking him to his father," Briseis alerted the nurse and they were off.
She cradled the baby in the hallway rocking him back and forth lovingly in his arms. "If I ever have a baby like you," she whispered to the little one. "I'd be blessed to the gods."
"You surely would," said Paris up a head with the golden haired woman. Briseis gaped in awe, her jaw literally stood open for thirty seconds. Paris laughed nervously and she regained her wits.
"Sorry," Briseis apologized to the woman, "I'm sure you are often told this, and most by my cousin, but you are beautiful."
The woman smiled and said silkily, "Thank you, Paris never told me what a beautiful cousin he had here in Troy. You dear girl, are lovelier then sun and the moon. The gods have blessed you with stunning beauty as well." Briseis smiled, half shocked that this woman could give her a compliment as grand as that.
"Paris," Briseis said, turning to her gorgeous cousin, "You never introduced me to your lady friend here."
"Forgive me," Paris said, lowering his head of rich chocolate hair. "Briseis this is Helen. Helen this is my cousin Briseis. She has just chose the virgin robes and will be serving in the temple of Apollo."
"What a pity to the great many admirers you must have," Helen purred with a smile, flashing pearly perfect teeth. "It is a pleasure to meet you Briseis."
"And a joy to meet you as well," Briseis responded, nodding her head in respect.
"This also," Paris continues, "is Hectors son, Astynax."
"What a beautiful baby," Helen cooed, playing with Astynax's little chubby fingers.
"Well I must bring Astynax to his father now," Briseis said, nodding goodbye to the couple. "His father must be anxious to see him."
"Undoubtedly," Paris replied, taking Helen's hand and heading down to his chambers. Briseis knew without a doubt what they would be doing there.
"Astynax!" Hector yelled from the other end of the hall. The little baby squealed at the recognition of his father. Briseis let the child go and he crawled to his father who picked him up and spun him around high.
"Careful of his head and the ceiling," Andromache warned. Briseis smiled watching Astynax and his father.
"Look at them," Briseis said to Andromache.
"I know," Andromache, replied happily, "the gods have blessed me."
"You are a lucky woman," Briseis sighed. "To have a handsome husband and beautiful child who adore you. What more could anyone want?"
Andromache stiffened and sighed. She turned to Briseis sadly. "I want a husband who stays by my side and does not go running off to danger every time it beckons." Briseis hugged her cousin close.
"Do not think of that, those times are over. Hector is home now."
"No, a war is coming, Briseis, Don't you know?"
"What?" Briseis asked concerned, her face paling.
"Helen's the one who started it. It's all because Paris stole her from her husband Menelaus."
"No," Briseis gasped. "Paris could not do such a thing."
"He has. Greece has declared war on Troy. The time for death and battle has come again. Hector will go to fight and come back to me with a wound that might take his life and I'll have to wait by his side in fear to see if he gets better," Andromache choked, "or worse."
Briseis hugged her cousin, tears rolling from her cheeks. "Oh Paris," she whispered, "How could you?"