Disclaimer: I do not own Troy, nor do I own anything that was written or created by Brunette Babie.
Helen in Troy
The kingdom of Troy was bustling with activity and excitement for the princes of Troy had returned from Sparta. The company sent to Greece rode up the streets of Troy towards the royal palace. Paris and Helen rode on a chariot near the head of the procession, while Hector and Helenus rode right behind them on horses. Music was played, flowers were thrown, and the Trojans cheered for the return of their kin.
The royals, priests, high officials, and nobles stood in the foyer of the palace as they awaited the princes. King Priam smiled as he embraced his son Hector, then his nephew Helenus, finally he turned to his youngest nephew, Paris, who was standing with a woman of great beauty beside him. She was of average height for a woman, wearing a gown of bright yellow and golden jewelry. Priam, his wife Hecuba, his brother Lampus, and his sister-in-law Arisbe stood and stared at the two with questioning eyes. However, before any questions were voiced, Paris spoke, "Everyone, this is my future wife and princess, Helen of Troy."
No one moved until Lord Lampus stepped toward the couple and said his welcome to Helen as he embraced the two and ushered them in to the palace. Helen's presence made the atmosphere in the foyer a bit tense, but this was broken as the click of sandals on stone was heard. Everyone turned as the most beautiful woman in the East came running into the foyer. She was wearing an oyster colored gown with blue stripes on the lower half of the skirt and a blue shawl draped over her left shoulder, the ends held together on her right hip by a small golden brooch; the outfit completed with golden jewelry and sandals. Her raven hair was in waves that bore blue colored flowers that brought out her gray and blue eyes.
Hector, being the first person the woman came to, smiled and said, as she looked at him after bowing her head in respect, "My, Briseis, your beauty grows with each new moon."
The woman smirked and replied, "Hector, you've spent far too much time with the Greeks you're beginning to sound like one, you don't usually greet me with such flattery." Unfortunately, Hector did not understand what she said, for she spoke in Thracian, a language he did not know. Before Hector could ask her what she said, Briseis spoke again. "So how was Sparta, any beautiful women able to distract you from your cause?"
Hector chuckled and smiled. "It was a grand kingdom, but there were no maidens that could compare with the ladies of Troy."
To this Briseis smiled, but then she suddenly noticed the red-golden haired woman who stood with Paris. "Don't tell me that is who I think it is," she warned Hector. He wore a guilty expression on his face as he confirmed that the woman was Helen of Sparta, the queen and wife of Menelaus, who was the son of Agamemnon. Briseis took a deep breath and with one last, expressionless glance at Hector she turned and headed back the way she came. Hector watched for a moment as Melanon and Pramadas went after their sister, but when he heard his wife's voice, he turned to her with a loving smile as he embraced her once more. For now, he would focus on his contentment of being home, not until tomorrow would he actually think about the consequences of his cousin abducting the Queen of Sparta.
Menelaus was furious when he learned of his wife and the Trojan prince's actions. Immediately, he went to father and brother to ask for their aid. Of course, both were willing to declare war on the Trojans, it was a dream that Agamemnon had for years, and now his foolish daughter-in-law has actually become useful for him, assisting him in fulfilling that certain dream. Agamemnon had all the armies of Greece called forth to Skyros, which from there, they would set sail to Troy. Reluctantly, Agamemnon also had King Odysseus of Ithaca ask Achilles to join the war. Yes, Achilles was a gifted killer, but his defiance and disdain threatened to break everything Agamemnon fought to build. However, as Nestor said, a great war requires great warriors, thus Achilles must be recruited.
The feast was lively and full of glee as people danced, music was played, wine was poured, and food was eaten. Many were joyous to have Helen in Troy, while others were furious. The woman herself did not seem to notice the people's comments about her as she spoke with Paris, Arisbe, and Andromache. Hector saw that Helen kept throwing slight looks of contempt towards the balcony, so he decided to investigate that. As he drew closer, he saw that Helen was scowling at his good friend, Briseis. This amused him a bit, because for Paris' affections Helen had no competition, for Paris and Briseis did not like each other at all. For Briseis, it was because Paris was simply an impetuous minded boy who needed to turn into a man. For Paris, it was because Briseis constantly mocked him, not to mention the fact that she was the one woman in the world who ignored Paris' advances. Paris, of course, found this insulting, he wasn't a god incarnate, but he wasn't unfortunate either; every woman that he's wanted he got, however he couldn't claim the title King or even Prince of Seduction. Helen was Paris' ultimate prize, not only the most beautiful of Paris' conquests, but the most beautiful woman of the Greeks, she would be considered the most beautiful in the world, if not for Briseis. Though Briseis was his friend, Hector was not being biased when he said that Briseis of the White Palace was far more radiant than Helen was. Hector put his thoughts aside as Briseis made her way through the throngs of people towards him. She seemed happier than a few hours ago, at least that is what Hector hoped.
"Enjoying the festivities?" He asked with a smile.
She returned the smile and laughed. "As much as I can, it seems that Paris' future bride has a habit of glaring at me."
To this, Hector laughed. "Of course, she's threatened by you, not for Paris, but for everyone else. Obviously she thinks that you're better than her, and she's right, in every possible way."
Briseis rolled her eyes and changed the subject. "Do you think it was wise of him to bring her here?"
Hector took a sip of his wine, then said, "I may be the elder brother he doesn't see in Helenus, but I cannot control his actions, although he should've thought about the consequences of bringing her here."
"You are intelligent Hector; you must've known that something was going to happen." Briseis gave him a slightly disappointed look.
The look he returned was shameful. "I knew that he was spending time in her bed, but I suppose I was hoping she would be like every other woman."
"She's too beautiful to be like every other woman," Briseis retorted.
Hector grinned. "So are you."
Again, she rolled her eyes. "Well I suppose all we can do now is wait for the Greeks to arrive, do not be so naïve to think that they will not come, for they will, and all of them for different purposes mark my words." With that said Briseis bowed to Hector and left saying that she would see him tomorrow.
The noises of the conference hall were loud and many. At the center of the back wall, sat the king, to his left, sat Lampus, Arisbe, Helenus, Cassandra, and of course, Paris and Helen at the end, to the right of Priam was Hecuba, Hector, Andromache, Melanon, Pramadas, and Briseis. The aristocrats, elders, high officials, and priests sat around a long, four-sided pool of water. Everyone was dressed in deep blue and white, the colors of Troy. Each of the columns portrayed one of the high Gods and at the doorway to the hall were sculptures of each of all the past kings of Troy. Hector looked towards Paris, who looked tense, but that was normal, he never had been good under pressure specifically speaking in front of his uncle's noblemen, but today was different. It was the Day of Judgment, for Helen's fate. Hector shifted his gaze to Helen who simply looked impassive. The crowned prince sat in his chair and listened to each of the arguments about Helen, while secretly thinking about Briseis' words.
"Prince Hector, do you not think that should Helen stay the people would be generally happier?" One of the noblemen asked.
Hector composed himself. "Helen, though beautiful, enhances our city little more than any other of our princesses would. For that truly is all she ever could be, should she marry my cousin and stay in Troy she would beautify the city, even more, but do little else to it. I believe that Troy should give her back to Menelaus." Hector said confidentially.
Another man stood up to speak. "But giving her back would show that we are weak and cannot control our own royalty. The Greeks will most certainly see this as a weakness." Almost every man nodded his agreement and it dawned on him. They did not want anything other than Helen's beauty in their city these reasons were simply excuses. He silently scoffed at this, Troy already had Briseis, an intelligent beauty and gifted warrior, why do they desire Helen? Yes, Briseis was not as welcoming of praise as Helen was, but that was only because she preferred not to be the center of attention. That is not a crime, but nonetheless, men will be men, Hector concluded as he softly shook his head.
Pramadas, Briseis' twin, stood to speak and everyone went silent, "Hector, do you think the Greeks will attack us if she continues living here as our princess? Are we in threat of war if she stays?" Though Hector knew that the children of Briseus knew that war was inevitable, the three siblings wanted to bring everyone else's attention to impending war.
"Yes, we will be in constant threat of war with Greece if she stays in Troy, for those who have seen the forces of Greece, or even heard the stories, would know that they are a formidable army." Hector said, his impatience growing at the council's strong refusal to return Helen.
Priam then silenced all speech. "Let Helen speak," the king said slowly, "She knows the Greeks better than any other, let her speak."
Helen rose awkwardly and her voice seemed lost for a moment. "They will come," she whispered, "They will destroy your city, Menelaus will have gone to his father and brother and they will be recruiting soldiers, the likes of which you have never seen. All of the kingdoms of Greece will come to fight for me."
Paris shifted in his seat; for his future was also being decided. Priam spoke once again. "Let us take a vote. Those who believe Helen should stay." There was no moment's pause, no quiet muttering. It was unanimous, excluding the royals and the children of Briseus, Helen would stay in Troy.
Hector glanced at Briseis and her brothers to try and see what they were thinking, but their faces were blank. In their minds, the Greeks would have come to Troy even if Helen were not taken from them. Hector knew that they were right, Agamemnon and his son Nicodemus, wanted to rule the world, Helen simply gave them a good excuse to come. Nicodemus' brother, Menelaus, tired of war and probably should have been the son of Tyndareus, for he wanted peace, but now, he surely wanted war because of Paris' idiocy.
As the council was withdrawn, Hector tried to approach his best friend, but she and her brothers quickly left the hall. They obviously were going to discuss Troy's defenses, but the prince was not sure if they would actually share their plans. Hector was commander of the army and was considered its best warrior; however, there were soldiers that were his equals if not his superiors. Melanon and Pramadas had equal skills that, at times, could best Hector; Briseis was another story, she always could defeat Hector and her brothers and every other warrior in Troy, any and every time. However, being a woman, she would was not allowed onto the battlefield, unless the Trojans were desperate and believed that they would have need of the great warrior woman.