When I awoke I was in a dusky room and I could smell strange herbs. Although my head and arm were excruciating I stood and went in search of Priam so that I could apologise for failing. I walked into his room without knocking- that was my way, I had to stand at the door with his other guard whilst he and his assorted wives made love so I knew that nothing I would see would be shameful.

When I entered however, I found Priam talking to a man that I had not met before, that intrigued me and at the same time a great fear rose into my throat. I edged forward with my hand resting on my sword hilt. Priam turned to me and smiled,

'Ahh, mercenary, it is good to see that you are up- this is King Aenas, of the Dardanians.'

I nodded my head and purveyed the man with a expert eye- he was handsome, more handsome than all the men in Troy, with large brown eyes and a mop of dark brown hair and delicious bronze skin, he smiled and bowed his head,

'Respect to the great mercenary who confronted Achilles.'

I shrugged,

'I was merely doing my job good King. I apologise for not getting the body.'

I said this last part to Priam, who sighed,

'You tried your best my dear and that is all that I can ask. Aenas is my brother's son, and was Hector's cousin. He came as soon as he heard of Hector's unfortunate death at the hands of that brute Achilles.'

I frowned,

'Begging your pardon sir, but how long have I been unconscious?'

Priam chuckled,

'Only a day and a night, Aenas' city is half a day's ride away, I sent messengers immediately. I must thank you mercenary, you have become a truly brave and loyal Trojan.'

I started at this statement- he had just called me a Trojan. I could not help but show my surprise and I stuttered a response,

'Err, thank you my king.' I did that accidentally, calling him my king, but it seemed to help the situation none-the-less, for Priam gave a small smile,

'You have been of more help to me than any of my own, bar Hector.'

I felt cold at this praise, although it was true, the life that I had lived at Troy was more like an honest soldier than any life I'd ever lived before, on the few hours that I had free a week I sat at the bar in the inn and talked or helped to teach the women on how to defend themselves. I had truly become a Trojan- barring of course my bloodlines. I bowed my head; manners, respect and good faith were now traits that I had accomplished as well,

'It is a privilege to be with you and your people my king. I thank you greatly for the chance that you have given me here in Troy.'

I saw Aenas' large smile out of the corner of my eye and I stood up as Priam walked forward and clasped me to his chest closely, I froze for a moment before embracing the man back, it was a strange custom that the Southerners had to always embrace each other I had noted long ago.



When we parted I looked around and noticed that Enchies, the other body guard was not present. I frowned,

'My king you are alone in here? Where is Enchies?'

Priam chuckled,

'My army grows weak and thin my dear, Enchies has been let go and is now serving in the front lines. As are all the palace guards bar yourself.'

I stared in shock; I knew that now I was considered one of the highest soldiers in Troy and the thought terrified me,

'Thank you my king.'

I muttered and stood to the side whilst Priam continued to talk to Aenas,

'What we must do is run the Greeks into the sea, but we've not enough men! I thought after a few months that they would run out of food but they haven't! I fear that sooner or later Troy's armies will be no longer and there will be no one left to save Troy! Aenas, I must ask for you advice on this matter now that my son has been taken from me… I need a man of your capability to take over my army. I understand that you must look after your own city, but I know not else what to do! Of all my sons and daughters so few have survived, none with the mind to rule my land! Paris is the eldest but I would not have him in charge of anything in this war for it is because he could not control his feelings of lust that we are in this problem in the first place!'

Aenas nodded and bowed his head,

'The Greeks have not touched my city so far Uncle, and I fear what my involvement will mean for my city.'

I looked up,

'The Greeks that take over Troy will force you into a submissive state of servants after they have defeated Troy, much like they have done to other neighboring cities that do not come to the aide of their attacked friends.'

Aenas turned and looked me in the eyes and I felt a slight tingle rush through my body at his closeness and I damned my natural human emotions,

'Do you know this for a fact mercenary, have you heard it with your own ears? Or are you merely speculating on something that you know very little about?'

Although he had spoken to me in a way so as to negate my idea his voice held neither anger nor aggression and I felt no fear or shame at what I had said.

'I have heard Achilles and Odysseus mention it over dinner on many occasions, they ponder about whom would rule Troy in Agamemnon's stead and on what Agamemnon would do with the Dardanians.'

Aenas shook his head,

'My city is empty now in any case. I sent my people into the mountains some 8 years ago when the Greeks began to move south a little, all that my city holds now is a few ragged soldiers and farmers with no families. I wish that my father were still capable of ruling so that I may leave him in his city and help out Troy, but I sent him away to the mountains not last spring. I know 

not what to do, in fact I came here to Troy to seek your advice in my matter Uncle, though it seems we both need something from the other that is not available.'

Priam nodded,

'Abandon Dardania and bring your men here to Troy, the city will be fine if you close it up properly, and help me flush out the Greeks once and for all, and then the light and happiness will once again return to your good city.'

I was standing at the window at this stage, staring out the window and thinking about how much I had changed since the beginning of the war. When I had arrived I had been but twenty-two years of age, now I was almost thirty-one. I had hated the Trojans with a passion, Priam especially, and now I loved them all like family, and Priam was like a father to me. No longer was I naïve and foolish and emotionally unstable, rather now I was strong and hard a perfect guard. I glanced over my shoulder to purvey Aenas, he would have been young at the start of the war, and I saw him to be about my own age. I sighed and looked back out across the plains and for the first time in many years I thought about Eudorus and what he would have been up to now, almost 44 years of age. I sighed and shook my head, wondering if he even was still alive. I was so caught up in my daydream that I did not hear Aenas address me,

'Mercenary! I asked you a question!'

I jolted out of my day dream and snapped round,

'Sorry, what was it?'

He laughed and smiled and I felt my knees go weak like a young girls, I was thirty and though there were a few Captains with whom I was 'good friends' I still had not found a man who I loved as much as I had loved Eudorus or my betrothed all those years ago.

'What do you think on the matter? Should I bring my men here to Troy and leave my city locked up, will it be safe?'

I shrugged,

'There is no guarantee that it will not be touched Aenas, but I feel that the Greeks are too caught up in Troy to bother with Dardania.'

Aenas tilted his head sideways as if to try and see me better and I frowned,

'What is it?'

I asked hollowly, worried about what was coming next, but Aenas merely nodded and turned back to his Uncle,

'I see what you mean uncle. I really do. I am tired from my journey and am going to rest; I will see you at dinner uncle with my decision.'

Priam nodded, the pair embraced and Aenas left. I frowned and looked at Priam,

'Don't ask my dear, don't ask.'

Priam said before I could open my mouth.