Chapter 29:

Achilles just stood there, waiting. The futile struggles of the boy behind her were nothing but white noise, easily dismissed. Her entire focus was on the gates of Troy that were slowly, almost painfully swinging open. It was like they couldn't bear to let their prince go. Something about that thought almost made her smile. Who would have thought the brave Hector would fight his final battle with a woman? It would be comical if it wasn't so grave.

When the Trojan prince stepped out from the city he thought his eyes were deceiving him. "Paris?" he said almost to himself. But then the younger man looked up and he knew it was true. "Paris!" He strode forward. "Let him go. Your quarrel is with me and me alone. So release him." His eyes spat fire. He could clearly see the healing wounds on his brother's flesh and he felt the rage begin to swell inside. "So, you seek to repay me? To take from me what I took from you? What honour is there in slaughtering a boy?"

"You should have thought of that when you cut down my cousin! He was seventeen; he had never even fought a genuine enemy before that moening!" she yelled back before reigning in her temper.

Hector ignored the thousandth stab of guilt. "I thought it was you I fought yesterday. And I with it had been you. ButI gave the dead boy the honour he deserved..."

"You gave him the honour of your sword," she spat. "You won't have eyes tonight. You won't have ears or a tongue. You will wander the underworld blind, deaf and dumb and all the dead will know: This is Hector, the fool who thought he'd killed Achilles." She turned and marched to her chariot, jerking the rope free and dragging Paris forward. She drew her sword and twirled it in her hand.

Paris' heart was racing. Panicked tears welled up as he awaited the cold slice of bronze into his flesh. How had this all gone so wrong? Thirty-six hours ago everything had been so perfect, so clear. They had been ready to give up everything for each other and now she had reduced him to nothing better than revenge? It could not be so. His heart refused to believe it to be so. But the look of utter terror in his brother's usually carefully controlled expression told him the truth of the matter. Everything they had dreamed and wished to have together was dead. As was he.

"Let him go!" Hector roared when he saw her start to raise the blade. If he had to watch her execute Paris he knew he would go mad.

The bronze glinted in the sun as she brought her sword down in one clean movement, cutting Paris' bonds. "What do you think I brought him for, moral support?" She gave him a harsh shove forward and watched him stumble to his knees with cold, detached eyes.

"What?" Paris asked and turned back to her in astonishment. "You are releasing me?"

She met his gaze like she had never seen him before. "You have served your purpose. I have little ned for you now and killing you would achieve nothing more than dirtying my sword. Go home. I am done with you." She waved a dismissive hand and turned her face away.

"Paris, get inside," Hector ordered, his sword drawn, prepared for any kind of treachery. This seemed too easy.

But Paris shook his head. "No." He couldn't abandon them to this. "Achilles, please. Remember yesterday. I know there is more to you than this, I have seen it. You are better than this!" He dared touch her arm. "I will ask you once more, Achilles. Walk away with me. This is the last chance either of us have for the life we spoke of in the sea. Do you remember?" He ran his palm down to her wrist then grasped her hand tightly. "Don't do this."

Achilles stared at him and couldn't help but remember that one perfect night. Despite herself, she found something deep within her start to crumble. But she clenched her jaw and steeled herself. She had a destiny to fulfill and it did not include the younger Trojan prince. Her destiny lay with the elder. Breaking his stare and looking away she said softly but firmly, Embarrass yourself no longer. Go back to your Spartan Queen and see to it I never look upon you again."

"Paris, get inside before I drag you myself. I will not have our father losing you twice in one war, now move!"

He didn't know whether he felt nervous, excited, heartbroken or just plain sick but he somehow turned and walked himself away from the warrior woman he had believed he would spend the rest of his life with and in through the gates he once knew he would never see again. He was instantly swept up in a swarm of people seeking to care for him, tend his wounds, change his clothes, feed him, bathe him. But without a word he brushed them aside and ran, ignoring any and all atempts to get his attention. He didn't stop until he stood atop the wall, gazing out over the battlefield. He needed to watch this.

With the gates of Troy firmly closed, Achilles and Hector silently sized each other up. And as a final insult Achilles reached up and pulled her helm off, tossing it carelessly aside then running her fingers through her hair. She glared. "Now you know who you're fighting!"


Well, I hope you're all still enjoying my probably temporary revival. If I know myself at all I'll get distracted by the Pirates one I'm working on and forget all about Troy soon enough.Lol. I was thinking of posting that one actually: Barbossa has a daughter. Joins the movie from the first attack on Port Royal. A bit of a WillOC but I don't know if they'll actually 'get together'. No Liz bashing either. I like that character too much :) What do you think, sound any good?

Oh, and I'm still undecided as to whether to kill Hector or not. What's the general opinion? Want to see him live (which could lead to some interesting dialogue as to the reason her for uncharacteristic display of mercy) or do you want me to really challenge myself and see how Paris reacts to her killing his brother (which could also lead to some interesting dialogue but probably not a very happy ending)? Let me know your ideas cos I'd hate to disappoint you.