From Afar:
Chapter 1: Prophesy

Disclaimer: I do not own Troy or Homer's poem. I do own my original characters and the plot.

Summary: Appointed by Artemis, she must now perform the unthinkable and change the course of a Prince's destiny. Can Paris fall in love with an ordinary woman and learn the truth in life or will he still go after Helen and throw everything else he ever treasured to waste? PG13 for: some language, violence (later in the story), and some sexual references (small love scene, mention of a love scene).

AN: Well hello there! Yes I came out with yet another story. But this one promises to be one of excellent writing. I guarantee! The plot for this story coursed through my veins all day yesterday and I decided to write it down. I know it will fair well as a story but as all young babes it needs 'stuff' to make it grow, you got it, Reviews! I will make a promise to you here and now, when I receive atleast five reviews for this first chapter I will post the next one, and the same pattern will ensue for the rest of the story. Deal? proudly shakes hands with reviewers All right, now on with the chappie!

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"Damaris! Damaris!" The deeply feminine voice rang out all around me as my eyes scanned the oasis for any sign of life. "Damaris, stand up child. There is no need to worry."

I slowly stood, my legs shaking slightly from the thought of an invisible person stalking me. I could hear footsteps but see no one ascending from any direction. The sun was bright and it reflected keenly off of the golden sand just passed the silky green grass. My brow seeped with sweat while I pulled my unruly tresses of chestnut hair from my neck and into a makeshift bun. "Who's there?" I called out halfheartedly, truly expecting it to be my imagination. When no one had answered I grinned shacking my head in a relaxing way, it was just my imagination after all. Damaris, my girl, you're losing your wit too early in your life. I thought silently as I plopped back down in the comfortable grass continuing with my sorting of good, ripe grapes from the bad, rotten ones.

'No, Damaris, it was not your imagination. I truly am here.' That voice blurted out, but this time in my own head as if it were I the entire time. "Where are you? Show yourself!" I demanded now fully agitated.

"I'm right here, girl," out of the glare of the sunlight a woman clothed in rich royal colors of gold, bronze, and crimson red appeared. She walked toward me her face the sophisticated features of a Queen and yet she strode with the grace of a warrior. Who is she? "I am Artemis the Virgin Goddess of the hunt, and you are Damaris daughter of Iris and Xenon, descendant of my own Twin's blood."

I sat there in awe, not quite sure how to respond. This was a goddess, my Goddess right here in front of my very own eyes. Why? As if on cue, she answered my unspoken question, "I am here to recruit you for a favor. I'm sure by now you've heard of the reward granted to Prince Paris for naming Aphrodite the fairest out of Hera, Athena and herself. What I'm asking you to do is twist fate, change Paris's attitude towards life."

"I'm not sure I understand." I spoke honestly my voice barely a whisper. I watched as Artemis paced uneasily in front of me, her soft flaming locks of hair swinging gracefully across her back.

"If Paris meets Helen now, he will woo her and steal her away from Menelaus striking flint to stone and causing the largest war ever known to man. The Greeks will wage war with Troy and Troy will fall taking with it some of the greatest warriors to be known. Not only that but Apollo, my brother, will be forced into shame for he is patron God of Troy. I cannot allow that to happen. Not because of some trivial game concocted by Aphrodite to be deemed the fairest of them all." Artemis paused picking up a sprig of grapes and resting in the lush ground in front of me. "All that I need you to do, my dear Damaris, is to change Paris' mind about going to Sparta in the first place."

The Goddess sounded so proud of her plan that the possible faults didn't even show in her demeanor. She merely sat feasting on the freshly picked, ripe fruit. "How exactly am I to change his mind?" I inquired snatching some grapes for myself.

"I thought you'd never ask," she stated merrily. "Though I am not the Goddess of love, I guarantee you that this little quest I am placing you on will lead you directly into a passionate romance. That is all you need do, woo the Prince for yourself and keep him for yours. But above all else never allow him to sail to Sparta, for there will be much to pay if you do." Artemis swallowed another grape then in reaching over to a basket pulled out two goblets and a flask of red wine. "Now, you needn't worry about time. It is nearly winter now, and I will enlist Poseidon to create a masterpiece of a storm, that will give you atleast until spring to fabricate a romantic air between the two of you. Which should be time enough to have spent with him. Wine?"

"Yes, please." I extended my hand for the goblet that was almost overwhelmingly full; if had one thing to say about the Gods' it was that they had a taste for the drink. I could barely hold the goblet in one hand and was fighting the temptation to refuse the drink as I listened to Artemis' last few words.

"And don't fret yourself about meeting him, the wine festival is next week and he is sure to attend, as he does every year. I will help him to search you out but you must make yourself presentable. Definitely do not wear that rag you're showered in now." I gazed down at the gown my mother had pieced together for me. "I suggest something either deep purple, perhaps maroon with gold trim. Now on with our toast, to success in our quest to find passionate romance and save Troy from becoming nothing more than rubble." Hardly a gallant toast but I suppose it would suffice; our goblets clanked and as I pressed the warm liquid to my tender lips I heard Artemis whisper one last statement as she faded into the oasis, "remember wars are started by men but waged by women. You've found your fight, now live it." As I drank down the last of the scorching liquor my body became as light as a chicken feather and everything around me turned to a ghastly white.

I woke up panting sweat draining from my body. I yanked back my tattered sheets rubbing my itchy burning eyes and stood, wobbling over to my looking glass. I sighed releasing the aching sensation in the pit of my stomach reminding myself of her last words; "wars are started by men but waged by women. You've found your fight, now live it."

"I will live it, I will serve you my Goddess." I pulled the stray pieces of my disheveled hair from my face and brushed them behind my ears. My hazel eyes were slightly red from rubbing and surprisingly my lips, usually a fair fleshy color, were crimson like the red wine from my dream. A sign to me that it had been real, I smiled merrily for I knew my life and its new significance.

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AN: Well that's it for the first chapter I hope you enjoyed it. And please remember my announcement from earlier, thank you and I can't wait to hear from you.