Chapter 1
The Greeks are coming, they will be here before nightfall, thought Princess Alexis of Troy to herself staring out over the beautiful Aegean Sea that was bringing them closer to her home. The arrival of her cousin Briseis pulled her from her thoughts. She sat down on Alexis's bed.
"Dear Cousin, I know you worry, as do I. But Hector is a great warrior and the Gods watch over us, you are protected." Briseis motioned for her to join her.
"I have faith in the Gods and our countrymen cousin. I just cannot get rid of a feeling that no matter the outcome of this war, my life will never be the same. I'm not ready to say goodbye to what I've always known." Alexis sighed. She knew Briseis was trying to reassure her but she just wanted to be by herself. "Thank you for coming to see me, cousin, I know you have temple duties, you need not worry about me." Briseis gave Alexis a kind smile and kissed her forehead before she left. Alexis lay down on her bed and thought to herself. She knew she should be with her family now but she just wanted to lay there and pretend if only for a couple hours that this wasn't happening. She feared for those she loved and she wasn't ashamed to admit her fear.
"Princess, your father requests your presence," a servant knocked on her door and bowed as she entered. "Thank you, I will be along shortly" Alexis dismissed her. She went over to her mirror and tried to calm the nauseating feeling in her stomach. She picked up her brush and ran it through her long, straight sandy brown hair and looked at her reflection in the glass. Alexis was only 17 years old but she was quite lovely. She still had a round, youthful softness to her face, but it was her eyes that gained her many admirers. They were a beautiful aqua color and they sparkled. She gazed for a few moments and went to go see her father, the king.
Her elderly father was standing with her brothers when she entered. "Father," Alexis smiled and bowed, "you wished to see me." "Yes, darling daughter," he said as he embraced her. "I was wondering where you were, are you well?"
"Yes, father I was just resting, it feels like this day is one of the longest of my life". Hector, her brother, came and wrapped an arm around her shoulder and Paris, her other brother, went to her other side.
"You mustn't worry beautiful little sister. You are one of the luckiest young ladies in the world. You have me protecting you." He smiled at Alexis teasingly.
"You and Paris are the best brother's anyone could ask for and I know you will do Troy proud." She smiled at them both.
"That we will Alexis," Paris answered and squeezed her hand. "Hector and I must leave you now and go down to the beaches". As they left her father turned to her.
"I called you hear because I knew you worried. You must trust the Gods, daughter. They watch over us and will protect Troy."
"Yes father, I suppose I just worry that if anything ever happened to our family I wouldn't know what to do." She confessed. "Oh I'm just being a silly woman" She laughed trying to play it off. She felt her father had enough to worry about, her feelings shouldn't matter at a time like this.
"I love you daughter and am proud of the woman you are becoming. Go now and see if your sister Andromache needs help with Astyanax". She left her father and started down the hill to Hector's palace. As she was walking she heard the city's warning bell, they were here. She ran to get a view of the city and for as far as she could see there were ships coming for Troy. Chaos had broken out in the city, all the people were trying to get themselves inside the safety of the walls and the soldiers on the beach were trying to prepare themselves. Alexis's first thought was to run to Andromache's rooms but her heart froze when she realized Briseis was in the Temple of Apollo, down there on the beach. Alexis knew she had to get down there and get her inside the walls. She made my way through the panicked streets to a secret passage way that led out the side of the city. Alexis ran as she'd never run before and made it to the backdoor of the temple. When she entered, there was no one around, Had she been mistaken? She thought to herself. Out of nowhere she felt two hands grab her and pull her into a hidden corner. She was about to scream when she heard her cousin's voice.
"Please, be quiet. The Greeks are here. We cannot be found." Alexis knew they wouldn't be able to escape and make it back to the safety of the city and she prayed to the Gods that they wouldn't be discovered until they could escape back to the city. Briseis and Alexis held each other in silence for what seemed like eternity when finally they heard voices outside, entering the temple. It was the Greeks. Briseis sobbed silently as two priests came out of hiding to confront the soldiers and were killed on the spot. These Greeks were ruthless. Alexis's body ached from trying to keep still and she tensed up even more when she heard other noises coming from outside, the sound of killing. Someone else had entered the temple. Trojan? Greek?
A voice Alexis did not recognize spoke very close to their hiding place . "You were very brave, but very foolish, to come after me alone. You must be Hector". Hector? Her heart jumped. Hector will save us! She thought to herself.
"These priests weren't armed". Hector declared angrily. Alexis heard a scuffle. "Fight me" Hector demanded.
"Why kill you now, Prince of Troy" the stranger asked "with no one here to see you fall." She heard the voice drawing farther away until she heard nothing. Hector had left them. Alexis waited a moment and still the temple was silent. She didn't want to leave in case they weren't alone but she also didn't want to miss the opportunity. She looked at Briseis who nodded to her. Very cautiously she peeked her head out and saw no one. She turned to look make sure Briseis was following and in that second a swarm of Greeks in black armor came out of the nowhere. "Run" Alexis screamed to Briseis and gave her a hard shove towards the escape. Two strong hands clamped down on Alexis's arms, shoving her down hard. Her head hit the corner of the altar and she blacked out.
