"Your highness, I have an urgent message to give to you from King Surmail of Toruna," a messenger of Troy said. Then he pulled out parchment and began to read the message.
"My dear friend, Priam, I have the most awful news a father could ever say. My youngest daughter is dead. She snuck off and fought in the battle against King Agamendmon and the Spartian warriors. We cannot find her, or her body. She is gone."
King Priam had tears in his eyes. This was the little girl he'd always known who brought a smile to everyone's face and could make anyone laugh in the worst possible time of their life. This was the little girl who used to sing and dance around his halls and she made him get his mind off his troubles and live for today. This little girl, whom he loved like a daughter, was dead.
After King Priam dismissed the messenger he asked one of his bodyguards to fetch his son, Paris. Priam knew this would be a hard blow to his son. For Paris loved Adonia very much, Priam knew that Paris still loved Adonia. This would be a hard day for them all.
When Paris walked in the throne room Priam could tell he had just woken from sleep.
"Sit, my son." Priam said, "I have some very sad news to tell you."
With a worried look on his face Paris sat down next to his father and said, "What is it, father?"
"Paris," Priam said unable to get the words out, "Adonia is dead. She fought against the armies of Sparta when they invaded Toruna and she's gone. She can only be dead."
"No..." Paris said shaking his head, "She can't be---dead. She---she just can't be." After saying that Paris ran out of the throne room and into the garden where he shared many wonderful moments with his love. He thought about the one time in particular. It was the moment he fell in love with her.
King Surmail and Adonia were visiting the kingdom of Troy to see old friends. It was very late, nearly midnight, when Adonia snuck out of her room. She asked one of the servants to move the harp out to the garden for her to play. She just loved the garden with all the exotic flowers and the calm and peacefulness she felt when in the garden.
There with the harp she played the most beautiful songs she could remember from memory. That is when Paris awoke from his sleep and heard the beautiful music. He ventured out into the halls to find out where this beautiful music was coming from. The music led him to the gardens. He was hidden behind some bushes so he could just watch her.
He remembered she looked so beautiful in her nightdress playing the harp and singing songs about love and happiness while under the light of the full moon. That is the exact moment that Paris fell in love with Adonia. He knew it the moment he saw her and wondered how it took him so long to notice his love for her. From then on he knew they had to be together. He knew he couldn't live without her in his life!
While Paris mourned Adonia's death he didn't know that she was in fact alive and in Sparta.
Adonia woke up at five in the morning to find an apple and a glass of water on her dresser. There was also a note that read:"Eat, wash, get dressed, then report to Queen Helen!"
So Adonia did exactly what the note said. She ate her breakfast, washed up, got dressed in a beautiful dress, and then went to find Queen Helen.
Adonia found Helen in her room at her make-up stand putting clips into her hair. Helen was known to be the most beautiful woman in the world, and everyone was right, she was beautiful.
Adonia bowed and spoke the words, "My Lady what are the services that you require of me today?"
"Nothing," Helen said, "I wish to be alone today to gather my thoughts. You may do as you wish."
With that said Adonia bowed and exited Helen's room, dressed into something more casual, and headed into the town center of Sparta.
Adonia saw many things. Sparta was commonly familiar with Toruna. Then she heard two commoners talking to one another about the royal family of Toruna. Adonia walked close by, acted like she was interested in the item that was selling at the closest stall, and listened.
"Yes, yes. The Prince of Toruna did move to Troy. Couldn't stand being with his heartbroken father, you know. The king's youngest child, a woman, died when we invaded them. Poor, poor man. I know how it is to lose a daughter, lost my own a few years ago." The first commoner said.
"Ah, but what about the middle child? What is said about her? The curious second commoner said.
"Oh, she is tending her father. I guess she couldn't leave her poor father all alone. Felt too ashamed or what not." Then the two commoners headed towards their homes with no more said.
Adonia knew that she had to leave Sparta soon. "Very soon," she thought. So Adonia went back to the palace to plan her escape so she could leave and go see her family again.
She figured out she could use a gold bracelet she received to barter a ship to go to Lilvan and there she could use a pair of gold earrings to get a horse and ride to Toruna. "It's a good plan," she thought, "It just might work."
She planned to escape tomorrow night so she rested for tonight so she could work tomorrow and break out by midnight!
