The next morning, the pair awoke wrapped up around each other.

"Is that what you risked death for?" Alexa laughed as they laid side by side in the bed.

"Well, I just came to see you, but that was a welcome surprise. Definitely worth risking my life for." Achilles murmured back.

"You shouldn't stay long. If they find you…"

"Princess, you worry too much." Achilles silenced her with a kiss. "Don't waste precious moments on worrying."

They laid there for a while, and Alexandra couldn't help but feel emotional. This was how her life was supposed to be. Spending time with the man she loved. In this moment, life was perfect. A man and woman, together. Not separated by silly kings and foolish wars.

Achille's ran his hand through her hair softly, as she traced the muscles of his chest.

"And what is to happen now?" She murmured.

Achille's stared at the beautiful creature. He understood now. He joined in wars, but he'd never caused one. He could understand causing a war now. He would, for her. He could also leave a war because of it.

"This is not my war. You are not my enemy." He said. "Continuing this war would mean hurting you. I meant what I said, Alexandra. I won't fight. I'll leave Troy."

"I'll go with you." She said. He stared at her for a long time.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

"You'd be leaving your home. Your father, your brothers."

"They would all be dead and gone if you stay and fight. Achilles, I want to leave with you. This war started because two people fell in love and got on a ship. Perhaps it can end that way."

Achilles kissed her, euphoria coursing through him. He wished she did not have to leave her family behind, but he understood. He would do the same for her. Now, Alexandra was his family, his future. He couldn't bear to sail back without her in his arms.

"You must go." Alexandra cautioned him. "And I have to speak to my father."

"Are you going to tell him?" Achilles asked, pulling on his robes.

"I am not sure. Hopefully words will form before I lose my courage."

"You don't have to do this." He whispered again, putting his hands on her face.

"If I don't, I fear I will be as good as dead inside." She replied. "To be without you now would be too painful."

Alexa exited the room first. While dawn was just breaking, the hints of sunlight preparing to rise up into the sky, nobody had arisen yet. Alexa lead him through the passageways so that he would not have to cross through the gates with the guards again. They embraced, said their goodbyes, and Alexa watched him disappear over the sands.

Alexa felt elated, giddy as if she were but a girl again, and practically skipped back to her room, giggling. She felt positively mad with happiness and threw herself onto the bed, face into the pillow. She could still detect his scent on the pillow and breathed in deeply. She allowed herself a few blissful moments, and then sat up.

Alexandra felt like she was walking amongst the clouds as she left her chambers. The morning sun was casting light on everything, caressing it in golden tones. Alexa almost crashed into Helen, who's eyes were cast on the floor, which were their custom whenever she passed Alexa.

Alexa felt a terrible guilt and hypocrisy when she saw how the woman cowered from her. She had shown Helen nothing but spite and bitterness, when the two women were the same.

They both fell in love with the wrong man. Alexa had chosen to leave with Achilles, knowing the pain it would cause her father and brothers. She had loved him when he was slaughtering her countrymen. Alexa didn't know whether she could've done the same thing as Helen if she were already married, and knowing it would start a war, however she was far more sympathetic now.

"Helen." Alexa said, and the woman looked up, startled.

"Yes, Princess Alexandra?"

"I owe you apologies. I… I have not been welcoming to you, at all. Beyond that, I have judged you. Now I find myself both a hypocrite and a foolish woman myself. I am sorry, Helen, for how I treated you. I understand now why you made the decisions you have. In fact, they have in a strange way, benefited me. I know it is too late to mend the rift between us, but know that I hold no grudge or hate against you, and wish you a long and happy life with my brother."

Helen stood there, gloriously beautiful in the morning sun. Her hair shone, her eyes bright blue and wide. Her mouth opened, then closed a few times, before her arms reached out and pulled Alexa into a embrace. After a while, she pulled away.

"I.. It's so pleasant to hear your opinion of me has changed. May I ask, what occurred to sway your mind?"

Alexa paused. Perhaps Helen was the perfect person to talk to about this. Here was a woman that had been in an equally difficult position, and perhaps could share some wisdom or comfort on the matter.

"Come with me." Alexa commanded, pulling the woman towards the temple. They sat down on the altar steps, and then Alexa told the entire story.

Helen sat very quietly after Alexa had finished, and then sighed.

"I do not envy you. Which is humorous, from my lips." She said, giving a smile. "It seems we are both slaves to our hearts, and hearts belonging to the wrong men."

"Perhaps the men are not wrong, but the world is." Alexa said bitterly. "I have to ask you to bequeath me with some wisdom. What thoughts ran through your head before leaving with my brother?"

"Every thought ran through my mind. I changed it over a thousand of times, but my heart won. The moment I saw the ship out of my window, I imagined it sailing away within the hour. I couldn't beat it; I knew I would either be on it, or thrown myself out of the window. I loved Paris too much, far too much. However, it would not be fair unless I told you how it ails me now. Every night, I think about the men, dead on the battlefield. Ripped apart from this world, from their families, all because of a swift decision to get on a boat and join my lover. Their screams haunt me, their pain hurts me. I fear I will see them, lined up on the river Styx, waiting to torture me for eternity." Helen admitted, and Alexa felt a cold shiver. She had no idea Helen was going through this mental torment.

"I am sure they would understand" Alexa said warmly, putting her hand on Helens wrist. "Furthermore, it was not you. It was Menelaus, and Agamemnon. They would have found some cause to hurt Troy later on. They just used you as an acceptable source. It is they who will be punished, not you."

"If you leave with Achilles, it would not cause any wars. As long as your brothers and father know you left of your own free will, they would not follow. They would let you be happy, which is more than my previous husband could grant me."

"I believe you are right. I will go to my father now, and tell him I am leaving. He will want some reason, which is why I must give him a half-truth. I will tell him I fell in love with a Greek, and we are leaving together, but I cannot tell him who. Perhaps he will eventually realise, but I don't think he would let me leave if he knew it was Achilles. Paris will understand- he has been through it, and I'm sure you will be there to help convince him. Hector, however, will be much harder. He has a hatred for Achilles which I have not seen before."

"Oh, no!" Helen suddenly gasped, her face white with shock.

"What is it? Quickly, tell me!"

"It is not possible…" Helen whispered. "You said Achilles left your chambers at sunrise this very morning?"

"Indeed, why?"

"Because… Oh, curse the gods. Paris told me… I thought you knew…"

"What? Helen, I beseech you- tell me!"

"Hector rode out at sunrise, this morning. To fight Achilles."