Author's Note:

Nine years ago, I posted this fanfic for the first time.

Some time ago, I decided to edit it because I wasn't entirely happy with the result yet. Eventually, the editing was so substantial that I decided to rewrite the fanfiction from the beginning.

This fanfiction is (and was) part of a three stories' series centered on Troy and focused on three VERY different characters. The other two stories were published on this site, but since they needed heavy editing too, they have temporarily been cancelled.

Thank you for reading and I'm always happy to read your reviews and insights :)

OOO

(Cassandra's POV)

Since I was born, I've always be considered strange. People would look at me with wide eyes or whisper to one another in my presence. At first supposed that was only because I was one of the king's daughters.

My first encounter with Apollo dates back to when I was about seven years old. I had accompanied my mother to his temple and she had left me alone to give our offer to Laxani, the high priest.

I was standing in the temple's main hall, looking at Apollo's beautiful statue, when I heard a melodious voice calling my name. I looked around ut nobody was in sight and with a shiver I understood that the voice came from inside my head.

"Cassandra" he said again, softly. I knew he was Apollo.

I felt strange, almost if I were floating. But when I looked down, my feet were still on the ground.

"Sir..."

"Do not be afraid, my dearest child" he murmured.

That very moment, a snake came out of the basket it had been resting in and slowly slithered towards me. I had always liked snakes, so I didn't back away.

"You can touch her. She has known you for a long time and she will do you no harm" Apollo's voice said confidently in my head.

What did that mean? How could a snake know me?

But apparently Apollo didn't wish to share that with me.

I kneeled in front of the snake and outstretched my hand. She slowly wrapped herself around my arm and eventually rested her head on my shoulder. She was warm and her presence was almost reassuring to me, so I easily accepted the contact. Eventually she went back to her basket and after a moment my mother returned with Laxani.

Upon seeing my confused expression, she snorted: "Cassandra, why are you looking at me like that? You're always lost in your own world"

"Do not blame your mother, she does not know that I am talking to you. Keep it to yourself for now" Apollo's voice whispered, almost laughing. "Now go with your mother. Feel free to come to my temple and touch my sacred snakes every time you wish"

-O-O-O-

That very year, my father decided that I had to study like my brothers. That was a very unusual choice - girls didn't use to study, not even princesses.

I didn't exactly know what studying meant, but since I was curious and eager to discover new things, I was looking forward to it. Not even the fact that I would attend school with my twin brother Helenus could ruin my good mood. Helenus was quite sullen, he put me off no matter how hard I tried to be nice to him. If only one of my sister could be there too...

"Are Polyxena and Laodice going to study as well?" I asked my father when he informed me about his decision.

"They are not" he answered briskly.

"Then why am I going to?" I asked. Priam sighed and looked at me tiredly.

"At the appropriate time you will know" he said in a definitive tone. I knew that it was pointless to ask more questions.

So we went to study with Hermes' priest, Aesacus. He was very old and had been my father's advisor for a long time. On the other hand, he was also playful and gentle and liked to tell stories, which I loved. He especially enjoyed Cretan stories because his father had been Cretan.

"… so Dedalus built this construction and called it 'labyrinth', and the Minotaur was imprisoned inside it." He told us one day.

"And what happened next? Tell me, please!" I pleaded, excited.

"Will you wait a moment, my child?" said Aesacus smiling "You always want to know what will happen next, this is your biggest flaw".

Years later I understood how right he had been.

"As if it were the only one" Helenus muttered, but I heard him nevertheless.

That was rich, coming from him! None of our siblings could stand his attitude. He annoyed even Hector, who was very agreeable.

"Do you really think you are so wonderful?" I snapped.

"At least I'm not insufferable like you, Cassandra!" he retorted, and I slapped him on the head while he punched me on the arm.

"Now you will stop beating each other!" said Aesacus sternly, and we went immediately still and silent. It was highly unusual to see him angry: like his temple's patron, he had a reputation for being friendly.

"As for you, Helenus, you shouldn't always try and sting your sister. She wasn't even talking to you. And as for you, Cassandra, I don't like it when you slap your own brother, besides you should learn to wait and see, sometimes. You can't always know everything from the beginning! Now, if you are finished arguing… the Minotaur only ate human flesh…"

"Bleah!" we chorused.

We tried our best not to argue and not to beat each other at school but sometimes we just couldn't help.

Aesacus taught me how to read, write and sing (music has always been very important in Troy since it was Apollo's city) and many wonderful stories and songs that I still remember. We later became good friends, despite the difference in age.

-O- -O- -O-

"Cassandra, are you ready? We shall go to the temple!" Hector shouted from the gardens.

"I'm ready!" I shouted back, approaching him and smiling widely to my beloved older brother. He was our family's joy and my favorite brother, always ready to share a joke with me but always to give me advice should I have needed it.

Hector tried very hard to be close to all of us, both brothers and sisters. It was consistent with his friendly attitude but there was more to it: as the heir to the throne, it was important to him to be influential and listened to in our family. Even if he wasn't a man yet at that time, none of us dared to disobey him.

"This place is always so quiet, but you feel such an awe…" Hector murmured once we had gotten into the temple. From some time I had noticed that I didn't belonged to my family. I loved Hector dearly and I felt affection for my parents and siblings but that palace just wasn't my place. I only felt at home in Apollo's quiet temple.

"As with Apollo…" I answered without thinking, and Hector turned swiftly to me.

"What? Have you seen him?" he asked, bewildered.

"No. I… how to say that? Felt him"

"Felt? What does it mean?"

"I heard his voice and a sort of warm aura around me… but I was alone" I knew that it wasn't clear and that I seemed crazy but that was.

"And how do you know it was him?"

"I know, Hector."

I regarded him seriously, then murmured into his ear: "If I tell you a secret, do you promise you'll never tell anyone?" with the conspiracy tone that only a eight years old child could have.

"I can't promise anything like that, Cassandra" he smiled "if you told me that the city is in danger, for example, I ought to tell it to our father"

"The city in danger? Why should Troy be in danger?" I asked with a laugh. "No. I want to become his priestess. Do you think they will let me?"

"Yes, I think they will" he said confidently and I felt reassured: if Hector said that, then it was true.

"Has he asked that of you, Cassandra?"

"No. But I know that I belong here."

"And what did he say to you?"

"He said my name, several times. Then…" I was about to tell him about the snake but I hesitated.

"Yes?"

"You will not believe me" I said doubtfully.

"Come on, tell me!"

"In a corner there was a snake. He told me to caress it" I confessed, peeking at him.

"You did that?"

"Yes! I couldn't resist his voice"

"Weren't you afraid?" Hector sounded incredulous.

"Not at all! That was Apollo's snake, he wouldn't hurt me! Look" A snake lied in the corner and I approached it.

"Cassandra, are you sure you are allowed to do so?"

"Yes. Apollo told me that I must never be afraid of his sacred snakes because they have known me from a long time. I didn't understand the last part, though" I added, still confused by Apollo's words. Shrugging, I sat on the floor and gently caressed the snake. With a slow, sinuous movement the animal encircled my arm until he licked my ear, then he went back to its place in the corner.

"You see?" I smiled at Hector.

He was speechless and gaping: we went back to the palace without a word.

-O- -O- -O-

"Hector" i murmured as he polished his spear.

"Yes, Cassandra?"

"I want to ask our father's permission… to enter Apollo's temple. Would you accompany me? Please?"

I felt it was time. Some days previously I had had an epilepsy crisis – they had told me because I didn't remember it at all- and from that moment on I had been feeling Apollo's presence in my mind all the time. He didn't talk to me, he didn't seem to interfere with my thoughts but I knew that he was there. Occasionally I would feel a burst of emotion that came from his mind and not from mine. I just knew that I had to enter his temple.

"Of course!" he took my hand and we headed to Priam's quarters.

My father wasn't surprised to hear my wish:

"My daughter. Now the time has come for you to know that. Soon after your birth you were chosen by Apollo. One night, while you were sleeping in his temple as is the custom for newobrns, he sent a snake to lick your ear. From that moment on we have known that you would one day become his priestess. So yes, I give you my permission. You will enter as soon as possible"

So at twelve years of age I entered Apollo's temple.

The high priest, Laxani, was as old as Aesacus but they were completely different; while Hermes' priest was playful, extroverted and sweet, Laxani was serious and a bit grumpy. But he taught me about snakes and healing as well as about the rituals. Knowing what it meant to be chosen by a god, he wasn't awkward with me like other people were. Soon I understood that his grumpiness protected a somewhat fragile soul and I came to terms with his strange personality.

Soon after my arrival another girl came to the temple as a novice; her name was Myrrhine and she was just a bit younger than me and more shy and reserved. At first she treated me with awe because I was the king's daughter but after some time I managed to befriend her.