I took my time striding down the wide halls that lead to the entertainment room. Along the way I bumped into an unexpected guest.

"Who dares to challenge me?" I stepped under the firelight of the torches.

"I, Alala, princess of Sparta." I lifted my chin up with dignity at the fair-haired man standing before me. "And who dares accept my challenge?"

"Princess of Sparta? Blah. There is only one princess of Sparta."

"There you are wrong, suitor. What is your name?"

"Menelaus, prince of Mycenae. I've come to make Helen my wife." I raised my eyebrows and looked the stout man up and down.

"May Zeus help her if you do."

"How dare you?" The grubby hand gripped my wrist and yanked me forward. "Who do you think you are?"

"I told you, deaf boy. Princess of Sparta. So it is you who dares." I yanked my wrist back with force that surprised him and whirled away. This time I made haste to enter the room in which my sister put an untold spell on men.

XxX

"Ahh. The rest of the glorious suitors." Helen was again offering her hand to a fresh group of suitors as I stumbled in. Quickly I went up to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"Dear little sister, what wonderful men you behold."

"Alala." Helen said through a clenched smile. "You are barely an hour older." I rested my hand on her bare shoulder.

"Oh, as was Atremis of Apollo? And yet she assisted his birth."

"You did nothing of the short." Helen snapped and turned to her suitors; expression changing from vinegar to honey with a flash. "Now what talent do you each possess?" In burst Menelaus, who I thought was abandoned in the corridors.

"Forgive me, my sweet. Your future husband was held back by a mere slave girl."

"Slave girl!" I exclaimed. "Have you no shame? Or do you wish to have your head spiked at the gates of Sparta?!"

"Sister!" Helen yanked me down and whispered harsh words. "If you insult my future husband; it shall be your head on the spike."

"I'd like to see your try." I whispered with the same hostility. And yet another boom of opening doors. "Well aren't we the one for rudeness?" I stood again to confront the boy that strode down to the jewel of Sparta.

"It seems we are. Is a princess really to great her suitors like this?" The bold blonde leaned against his spear and gave a cocky smile at me. "I expected more from the terribly beautiful Helen."

"I am not Helen." I took a step down closer to the boy. "I am Alala, her twin. And what farm boy insults us?" He laughed. Laughed! Oh, how I wanted his head then.

"I am Achilles. Son of Peleus and Thetis."

"The sea nymph? Bah." I waved my hand at such a claim. "At least you can claim yourself son of a greater goddess." The spear was at my throat in an instant.

"Do you dare insult my mother?" At that moment, I had no doubt that Thetis was his true mother. Gently I pushed the spear from me.

"I dare many things. But to insult a goddess I would not." Achilles nodded his head in understanding.

"I'm merely passing through. I had no wish to court you sister. Maybe a space in the stables would be provided for me?" I shook my head and lead him towards the wooden door.

"Don't humble yourself. We have many guess chambers."

"May mine be present near yours?" I whipped around and grabbed his throat.

"Watch your tongue, son of Thetis. Your mother may be immortal, but that doesn't mean you are." I threw his head and kept on walking.

"Such temper. I like it." I smiled in spite of myself. Not only had Achilles gone with me instead of gloating and my golden twin; but he had done so without uttering a single word to her.