Like Father, Like Daughter

Prologue

"Briseis, hold on!"

The high priestess's breaths were deep and rhythmic, holding onto her cousin's hand with all her might, Helen on the other side and Andromache wetting a damp towel. Two nursemaids were at her bedside to make sure the woman was alright and to help deliver the baby.

Briseis was pregnant and now she was in labor. While she was with child, looks of pity would be glanced at her. Less merciful opinions would look down upon her in shame. Despite the remarks behind her back, each day Briseis would touch her belly with loving thoughts, happily waiting for the child to come. She knew who the father was, but she wouldn't tell anyone of the identity of her lover. Paris probably knew, since he saw her reaction to a certain warrior's death, but Briseis was unsure if he really knew. It broke her heart every time the images of pain across his face swept to her mind. He couldn't come with them while she and the rest of the survivors escaped a ruined Troy... He wouldn't had come with them anyways. He was on the enemy's side, but Briseis knew he was but a mercenary, a hired hand to help fight the king's battles. So... could there be a slight chance he would have come with them?

Her skin was hot like burning coals, sweat dampening her brow and hair greasy. Blood leaked out of her body, dripping on to the bedsheets. Each spasm from her lower body sent shocks of pain, echoing throughout her nerves as she whimpered loudly in pain. She glanced at her stomach, the girth changing, rising up and down. For a moment she thought her insides would explode, but she knew she was surrounded with aid. Andromache placed the wet cloth on her forehead, kissing her cheek.

"Briseis, it's going to be alright... you were always the strong one, ever since we settled here," comforted Helen.

A weak smile was across the woman's face, looking up at her relatives' faces with tender eyes. How glad she was that she was surrounded by family. Even though Hector and her great uncle, King Priam, died during the siege at Troy, she knew they would be here with them in spirit.

It was a long and arduous task to relocate their citizens in a new peaceful setting. Some of them separated from the group to recreate their lives independently, while some stayed loyal and wouldn't leave the royal family. They were lucky enough to find a friend who was within the nobility to help shelter them, which Briseis was grateful for.

A great shock unlike any other spasm screamed through her entire being. The priestess let out a high pitch yell, her legs thrashed out violently, thrusting her body onto the mattress and howling out in agony. Something slid out of her womb, more pain coming until...

"Wah... wah...! Wahhh!"

Briseis felt a smile coming on to her face. She had passed the test. Every muscle in her body ached from the intense process. The sheet of the bed were damp with sweat and blood. Her vision suddenly got blurry, focus sharpening then fuzzy switching like a revolving cycle. Her heartbeat was starting to slow down. The beat irregular with too many pauses.

"Briseis, Briseis, you did it! You gave birth to a daughter!" the young prince showed his cousin the infant, joy beaming on his face.

The baby had wisp of golden hair on her forehead, eyes squinting from the torchlight. The tiny body emitted loud cries, skin a dark pink from birth. Briseis's smile got wider.

She looks... just like her father.

The happiness was short lived, for Briseis knew what was going to happen next. She reached for her child, holding the tiny body the best she could since she had no strength. The new mother looked into the child's gray eyes, seeing the baby's father's gentle nature and ambition burning within them. She loved her child with all her heart. There was no denying it. Briseis kissed her child on the cheek and looked to Pairs.

"Paris, Paris..." She wanted him to draw near since her message was urgent.

Her cousin drew closer, the smile on his face not seeming to go away.

"Yes, dear Briseis, what is it?"

"I... I don't think I'll make it," she breathed, every breath an arduous task.

The unwavering smile died immediately as she uttered the unfathomable words. There was a long pause between them that felt like it had no end.

"Wha- ... Briseis, what are you saying? Don't think that, I-"

"The gods are taking me away..." weakly stated the Priestess. "It is my punishment for falling in love and bearing a child, but I accept it wholeheartedly..."

"No, Briseis, don't talk that way, don't..." Tears began to form in his eyes. "I lost Hector and I lost my father, I... I can't lose you!"

"Paris, listen to me..." She placed a hand on Paris's cheek.

The young boy closed his mouth, hanging on every word the priestess was saying.

"He is a good man, Paris... Even if he was against us, even if he killed Hector... There's still good in him. He had it from the start..."

There was a long moment of silence between the two, not counting the buzz from outside the room, or the cheer of Helen and Andromache.

"Achilles is the father... am I right?" asked the youth. His voice was stern.

Briseis nodded weakly, tears forming in her eyes.

"Yes... he is."

Paris's eyes stared intensely at the corner of the room. Briseis knew he was in deep thought. She reached for his hand, making sure he listen to what she had to say.

"Her name is Marina..."

The priestess's eyes began to close, the grip on the baby slipping away. Paris caught the child before it dropped, the baby letting out more cries. Briseis was dead, gone from this world... Her body lifeless and lost of it's color. She was gone. She really was gone. Just like Hector... just like his father, the king... Tears in his eyes, he held the infant close to him.

And they both sobbed.

The fires ate the body away, taking the soul to the afterlife. All around Paris, woman shed tears from their faces. Prayers were chorused from the stand of singers. Offerings and rituals were performed while the body was turning to ash. The warm evening winds blew across his face and Paris looked at the horizon where the sun was setting. The young prince glanced at the burning corpse.

A few months ago, that was where his brother was before he left this world. And that was all because of Achilles. He took away his brother. Troy's honor, his father. And now Briseis... That was all the bloodthirsty man was going to take.

He left the courtyard, hoping somewhere in the afterlife that Briseis would forgive him of leaving her funeral early. Last news of Marina that he heard was that she was going to be sent to the temple to live with the priestesses. Marina must be protected and taken care of. Most importantly, she must never know anything about her father.

"Paris...! Paris!" He could tell it was Helen trailing after him. "Paris, are you alright? What's the matter?"

The youth turned around, facing his bride to be. He smiled, taking in her hands.

"Helen, what do you think of adopting a child?"

Note*~

Hello, everyone! I'm new to the Troy section, so I hope to make new friends here. :) ^.^

In the story, Achilles didn't die. He was just severely injured and was healed by army medics.

I just came up with this on the dot, so I'll have to brainstorm, collect some dust... updates for chapter two would probably come slowly, but I'll try. :) ^.^

I just watched the movie yesterday, and I fell in love with it all. :D Eric Bana's acting was terrific, and seeing Sean Bean and Orlando Bloom together on the screen just made me think of Boromir and Legolas... donotjudgeihavenolife 8) haha And when I saw Paris/Orlando shooting arrows, I thought ELVESSSS XD

I just LOVE history. I was fascinated with Egypt when I was little, then (sugarcoated) Tudor history (but I learned the real Tudors when I got older. hehe Showtime's The Tudors is definitely not for kids! haha), then I got into more such as Marie Antoinette, Catherine the Great, and Cleopatra! Roman and Greek history's so rich out of all the time periods I've read... :)

Hope you liked the prologue of the story! :D Peace!