Disclaimer: I do not own Troy, nor do I own anything that was written or created by Brunette Babie or Celebwen Telcontar (Areia and Enyo belong to CT).
Arrival of the Greeks
The warning bell of Troy sounded and the Trojans scurried about, the towns folk trying to get behind the walls and into their homes, while the soldiers prepared for battle. It was around mid-morning when the army was ready, that the guards saw the two figures approaching the city. Hector went up to where the archers were and recognized the younger man as Menelaus, the other he learned was King Odysseus of Ithaca. The two of them stated that they simply wanted a council with King Priam and Lord Lampus, so the two Greeks were allowed into the city.
Briseis, Andromache, Helen, and Paris watched all this from the wall. When the Greek kings went into the palace, the noblewoman turned her attention to the beach. She saw that the Greeks were setting up their camps, but a band of men in black armor was sacking the Temple of Apollo. Briseis recognized them as the Myrmidons the fiercest warriors of the Aegean. She was thankful that Captain Tecton made sure that the inhabitants of the temple were brought to the Apollonian temple within the safety of the city walls; however, a few went to the countryside. The rest of the nobles and royals then came onto the platform.
"What did those Greeks want?"
Briseis scoffed, "Honestly Paris, it's obvious that they want Helen."
"Menelaus wanted to see if he could negotiate his way into getting Helen back." Helenus answered while glaring at his younger brother.
"They should be coming back with the armies within the hour; I think it best to start taking our positions." Melanon said as his youngest brother ran up to him. The men agreed and they went to embrace their families before heading onto the battlefield.
"Melanon why can't I go to war?" Hentayol's naivety brought a smile to his siblings' faces.
Melanon picked up his brother. "Because you haven't finished your training yet. When you do I give you my word that you may come to war with Pramadas, Cariaxis, Balcamen, Brisantho, and me."
Hentayol's eyes narrowed while he studied his brother for a moment. "Do you promise?"
"I promise." He said with a smile and set his youngest brother down.
Briseis then stepped up to embrace him. "Be careful." She said quietly.
"If that is what it takes to return to you." Melanon said softly. They smirked at each other.
Pramadas crouched next to Cartanye, listening to the young boy's words with a smile. "Don't kill too many Greeks," Cartanye told his elder brother sternly. "Or there won't be enough for the rest of the Trojans to fight." Briseis put a hand to her mouth to stifle the laughter.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Pramadas said, trying to hide a grin. He ruffled Cartanye's dark hair and stood to face Briseis.
"You heard him, leave some of those Greeks for the rest of the army to slaughter." She said mocking her younger brother even though he was too young to realize it. While the twins embraced, she whispered to him, "I know you've always been somewhat of a glory hound, but don't do anything too stupid."
"Don't worry I won't." He let go of his twin and walked to where his brothers waited for him and the five brothers walked down the stairs.
"Well you all should go back to the palace." Briseis said, her voice unwavering. "War is not something you need to see until you come of age." She said lightheartedly. She smiled at them all and they walked down the stairs leading to the palace. The royals took their seats but the princesses, excluding Cassandra, stood at the wall staring down towards the army. Briseis joined Helen and Andromache. The three of them stood in silence as they watched the lines of Greek soldiers coming towards the city.
When they came close enough to the walls, the armies stopped for a moment seemingly to assess the situation. Then Agamemnon signaled his chariot forward, along with both his sons, and another Greek king. Hector, Helenus, Paris, Pramadas, and Melanon rode forward on their horses. Agamemnon tried for a final time to retrieve Helen and Troy without force, but the Trojans stood their ground and so the battle began.
There were many casualties on both sides, but it could not be determined who would be the victor of the war. Helen sat alone in the gardens of Troy. The women were not allowed in court and Andromache was resting due to her condition. It made Helen smile to think that she was going to be an aunt, but these thoughts made her think of her niece, Iphigenia, and how it was rumor that her brother in law killed her so the Greeks would have fair winds on their voyage to the east. She shook her head; Nicodemus was as ruthless as his father Agamemnon was. "How is it that one man's greed can spring a battle so great?" Helen's small voice carried over the Trojan gardens.
"Why is my being here causing such despair? My being with Paris is no crime. Why have the Gods cursed me so?" Helen held her head in her fair hands.
"The Gods have not cursed you, Helen. They gave you love. Only it came at much too high a price." Briseis whispered from behind the princess.
"I didn't hear you there. I'm sorry I'm just..." Helen tried to look strong in front of Briseis but failed. "Love in the midst of war is no love at all." The other woman sat beside the Trojan princess.
"I don't mean to sound...cruel but what were you thinking when you came here? That there would be no war?"
"Well of course not. I know Menelaus would never give me up without a fight. I knew that he would come to Troy." She faced Briseis, tears streaming down her face. "The women in court, they spout curses at me when no man is around. They call me a disease on Troy, a Greek whore. Especially Cassandra, she hates me so much more than all the others do. Do you have any idea how that feels, to have the entire world against you?"
"You have no idea; I've been called everything you have and then a hundred times over. People hate those who are different, who aren't the exact same as them." Helen looked at Briseis, but before she spoke Briseis said, "Yes, my father was a Greek which makes me half Greek.." Helen's eyes widened slightly, she did not expect that, she simply thought that the women were jealous of Briseis as she was.
"What was your father like?" the princess asked meekly.
"He was a great warrior who thought nothing of what people thought of him. The only exceptions being King Priam and his family, my father's own family, and himself. He was more of a philosopher than a soldier, though. He hated war, said that it didn't solve. He even said that it was of no matter whether you had a title or not, it only mattered what you do with your life, what is important is what people will remember you for when you die."
"I wish I could have met your father." Helen said quietly. "He sounds like a man who could have been a worthy king." Briseis said nothing, but simply nodded, not really seeing the significance of sharing her past with Helen, it only show that the two of them had more in common than the princess thought and that might make her even more egotistical. Helen then asked, "What was your mother like?"
"She was the same as my father, which was probably why she married him, despite the fact that he was a Greek and she was not. Many people disapproved of their union, but as my father thought nothing of their words, neither did my mother. The both of them were the best parents anyone could ask for, strict, but nonetheless, loving." Helen nodded solemnly. "You ask very many questions of me, what of your own parents."
Helen grew tense, but looking into the noblewoman's calm, blank stare made her relax. "I'm sure that you already know the stories of Leda and Tyndareus, whatever you've heard is true. The stories that I've heard of your parents match how you've described them yourself."
"I'm sorry." Briseis said as she stood and started to walk away from Helen.
"It is I who should be apologizing to you." Helen said with conviction. Briseis turned and looked at the princess. "I'm sorry for the childish way I've acted towards you, it's not very fair since you've been nothing but tolerant with me." She paused to assess the other woman's reaction to her words, but her face was blank. "The truth is, since the moment I met, I envied you. You have beauty greater than I and you…are simply everything that I'm not. You say the people gossiped about you and they do, but deep down I know that they adore you."
Briseis was a bit surprised, so the princess had some sense after all. "You may envy me for what I apparently have that you do not, but you have love, something I will never find." Helen opened her mouth to protest, but Briseis cut her off, "I propose a truce between you and I, any crimes we've committed against each other shall be pardon, and we shall live on as…acquaintances."
"Perhaps…friends?"
"Perhaps in time"
"Then I accept, Lady Briseis." They both smiled at each for the first time.
Briseis turned to leave, but decided to mention one last thing. "As for Cassandra, she has always despised anyone who threatened the safety of the Trojans. I remember a time where she hated me as well because of my family, but now I suppose she tolerates me as everyone else tolerates her. She will not cause harm, but just accepted her words and move on." Helen said nothing, so the noblewoman left the princess alone with her new thoughts.
Briseis made her way down to the stables. She just came from checking on her brothers who were in battle. They were all fine, with only minor wounds, same as Hector and his cousins. When the younger brothers came forth to bombard the five with questions of the battle, Briseis decided to visit her mares. Areia and Enyo were settled in their large stall, looking rather bored. Briseis smiled as she walked up to them and their spirits lightened as they nickered happily. "The both of you seem happy, did you miss me?" The mares seemed to nod as she embraced them both. "Shall we go for a ride?" They neighed in response.
Areia was trotting in front of Enyo, leading the way through the streets of Troy, Briseis sat atop the later. She warned them both not to attack any person or animals unless given her permission; they didn't seem to complain much. Pramadas must have already fed them, which was the only thing he could do, but it was at least more than what everyone else could. Briseis supposed that it was because Pramadas was her twin brother, so in a sense he was Briseis, she suspected that that was the only reason that her mares didn't act so ferociously towards him.
When the three came upon wider empty streets, the horses walked side by side. Their mistress spoke to them of the war and her pact with Helen. They snorted at the later. It was getting close to dinner, so the horses started to divert themselves back to the stables. Once they reached their stall, Briseis noticed the pile of fresh dead rats in the corner, thankful once again for her twin.
"Enjoy your dinner, but don't get carried away, if Pramadas comes again remember to thank him by not attacking." The mares snorted, but they rubbed their heads against her shoulders as their farewell. She patted their noses then left the stables and made her way to the dining hall, apprehensive of what the next day would bring.
