Warning: some discussion of nudity and alluded intimate acts in this chapter. Not enough to be M rated, in my option, but viewer discretion is advised. Hope you enjoy this double update. I must prepare for an exam so I will not be able to update for the next week or so.
Korinna's POV
For a moment, Korinna imagined the whole thing was a long strange dream. Helen leaving Sparta, the war, meeting Hector, Patroclus' stupidity, stopping her brother and then suddenly feeling weightless in flight; that is until the crippling pain set in that snapped Korinna awake and her eyes began to adjust to the strange surroundings. It radiated and pulsed from her back and splintered like fire ants around the rest of her body with every pained breath that Korinna thought her body would fold in on itself. However, as she laid there, she felt her mind begin to race and the events of what happened began to sink in.
'I was riding and… I was hit by something and then… I must fell from the horse but-but how am I here?' She thought as she began to force her stone-like body to move and feeling as if parts of her where chipping away as she went. She looked around and noticed other injured soldiers around the room, some in various stages of consciousness, but none she recognized as allies which solidified her fear. 'Why am in Troy? What happened?' However, her curiosity was overshadowed by her intense urge to flee and get back to her men.
Despite the pain Korinna found herself able to stand and began to quietly walk to the room's entrance but not before taking a sword from an unconscious man along the way. She knew she did not stand a chance if she came across anyone with any sort of weapons training, especially in her state, but Hades be damned if she wasn't going to meet the boatman fighting. For some time, Korinna found herself dodging passers-by by hiding behind statues and ducking into corners until she found herself in an outside garden space flanked on many sides by statues of the gods. It was then that she began to feel more aware of her body, the blood from her reopened feet beginning to make her steps more slick, the burning on her shoulder, the fatigue of her muscles and all this self-awareness, coupled by the fact that she knew she was in a dangerous place, caused her heart and breath to riot against her. Korinna found herself collapsing between the status of, what she was later able to identify, as Artemis and Apollo, her heart feeling as though it would explode as well as freeze at the same time and her lung not far behind. Korinna reached up and clutched her chest and tried to slow this reaction but felt like it was no use. She did even realize that tears began to fall from her eyes, nor did she realize that a figure was slowly beginning to approach her. She felt like she was going to die, and frankly she thought it would be a reprieve.
"Shhhhhh, it's alright child," a soft older voice stated and Korinna felt her body snap, grab the sword that was next to her and raise it in a defensive posture and the old man that now was sat next to her. He did not flinch, he barley reacted as all, he just raised his palms up softly and looked at her in a way that reminded Korinna of her father. It was the first time in a long time that Korinna felt safe.
Priam's POV
This day was truly turning into a day that Priam, could safely say, he had never seen an equal too. From witnessing the fear and worry of his eldest son the night before, to the tenses of a battle that never came to pass, to the relief of knowing his son will live to see the marrow, and the dread of watching his savior fall to the ground and looking up to see his youngest holding the instrument of their doom. The only relief he felt was seeing the look of horror that crossed Paris' face to realize he was not trying to hit that woman but was probably aiming for her brother. Still a dishonorable act but one he could, at least, understand. Now, the woman, the true savior of Troy the gods have sent them, was injured and missing. Priam did the only thing he thought he could do which was pray, pray for the woman's safe return, good health, and his gratitude for the sparring of his eldest and heir. Taking off his royal regalia he began to walk over to the statue of Artemis, protector of women and the vulnerable, with hope of guidance and support when he noticed her.
Curled into a small ball, clutching her chest, and the small sounds of gasping and weeping breaths. It reminded Priam of his children when they were small and scared and it made his own heart ache for her. He could not imagine what must be going on inside her body and mind at this moment, but he felt compelled to try and comfort her; not as a king but as a father.
"Shhhhhh, it's alright child," Priam said as he sat next to her. He watched her body come to attention, a sword high in one arm, prepared to strike, the other held in a fist by her throat. However, Priam knew better than to react to the physical gestures she was making, as they were like that of a wounded animal trying to defend themselves. Besides, it was her eyes that gave her away. Blue-green pools, milky with tears and churning with pain and fear. It frankly broke his heart to see one so afraid and he made more conscious efforts to seem an unthreatening as possible to her, which seemed to work as he noticed the sword hand lower slowly back to her side.
Slowly, Priam took the girl's hand from her throat in both of his and leaded down to kiss it and slowly reached for the other to do the same, even if it still was clutching a sword. It was an action that was clearly unexpected, and curiosity began to case away some of the fear in her eyes.
"I have endured what no man has ever endured before. I have kissed the hands of the woman who saved my son," He stated and watched the realization begin to set into her eyes. Even injured he could see that she was sharp and intelligent.
"Priam?" he voices, small and horse, asked to which Priam nodded. What followed was a few moments of silence, but Priam's attention never wavered from her. Silent tears still fell but her breathing slowly began to relax as panic began to wear away.
"Is my brother dead?"
"No," Priam answered softly.
"Are you going to kill me?" She asked again and Priam could not help but smile at her gently.
"You have saved everything from being taken from me. My eldest son, heir to my throne, defender of my kingdom, why would I repay the kindness both you and the Gods have shown me by killing you?" Priam asked kindly and took one of his hands to wipe the tears away from her face. "I knew your father, he died before his time, but I know he would not want his daughter cowering in a corner. No, he would be so proud of the brave woman you have become, and I will forever be indebted to you child. You truly have nothing to fear here, not as long as I am alive."
Priam saw his words take hold almost immediately, it was clear that she did not have much fight left in her. He had seen many a young solider in his youth overtax and run themselves into the dirt. The only difference was that this was a woman. "Come, let us go and get you clean and rested my dear. Tomorrow, I would love to hear your story if you are willing to share it with me."
No words were spoken after that but Korinna did give a nod of agreement and Priam helped her to her feet and offered his support as they made their way out of the prayer garden. Priam doubted she would have been able to move on her own based on her gate, it reminded him of a newborn calf taking its first steps. He could hear that Helen and Hector were still in the throne room and could not help but thank the gods for this next blessing. Helen had told him of her relationship with the girl before and he imagined being connected to a friendly face would give her comfort.
"We don't have time to talk about this. We need to find her," Priam heard Hector tell Helen as they entered.
"No need, my son, she is found," Priam said in order to announce their presence. He could feel Korinna stiffen on his arm for a moment but was unsure if it was due to underlying pain or continual fright. However, what Priam did take note of was the peculiar reaction his eldest was projecting. It reminded Priam of when he caught Paris steeling his horse when he was young. That of a child, who had been caught doing something they were not supposed to be doing but trying to hide their guilt. Priam was struck by how odd it was but chose not to comment.
"Korinna!" He heard Helen exclaim in a mix of relief and joy.
"Helen, can you please take our guest to some more suitable quarters. She is in some desperate need of rest," Priam stated, and Helen rushed over to their side in an instant and Priam helped put the girls arm over Helen for additional support.
"Helen?" he heard Korinna asked gently and both women began to move across and out of the room and he could imagine Helen nodded to her extatically. "You've made quiet a mess."
The sound of Helen's laughter of surprise permeated from the hall and both women were gone. Priam again took stock of his son who seemed to be tracking their forms long after they were away from sight. 'Strange…. Very strange.' He thought.
"Hector, it seems that we can call off the search. Please alert the healer. I imagine Helen will be taking her to Briseis' old rooms." Hector nodded in response. "And Hector, we will be discussing what took place today. Be prepared for the counsel, I do not want another outburst like yesterday."
"Yes, Father."
Helen's POV (sometime later)
Korinna sat in a privet bath in the quarters that Helen brought her too. The healer came by earlier and rechecked her injuries. The wound on her shoulder was not as bad as originally thought but her body would be sore for the next few days due to the fall. He gave her some wine and herb concoction to help her sleep and with the pain before leaving the two women alone. Helen took some time helping to wash the grime from her friend's body particularly that of her feet which she thought looked painful. The two women did not speak much, it was almost as if they did not have to. No time seemed to have passed between them. Helen could not help but try and hide flinches when, while washing Korinna, she revealed a new bruise or cut the woman endured.
"It must be pitiful, feelings as through you are the cause of all the world's ills. I would imagine the Gods would feel you have an inflated sense of self-importance," Korinna stated with a slight laugh turning to look up at her friend, who was sitting at the bath's edge. "I am the agent of my own choices Helen, the only blame that should be felt by my current condition lies upon me- Well, possible a little for the one who spooked my horse, but mostly me."
"But- "
"No, no but, could've beens, and such. You are guiltless in what happened to me. I chose to come here. No one forced me. Hades, many discouraged it. This is a price I am paying for my choices."
"But I am the reason you chose to come here, if I did not runaway with Paris this would not have happened," Helen stated exasperated.
"If I bought a dog, one that raised and trained and everything, and it bit me after I kicked it. Who is responsible? Myself for kicking the dog or the owner who raised, trained, and sold the dog to me? War is dangerous, much more than I anticipated-sure- but it was my actions that caused me to get hurt."
"When did you become so wise?" Helen asked with a chuckle. It was like she remembered, Korinna always seemed to know what to say to get Helen out of melancholy state.
"Between Achilles and I, one of us needed to be. Otherwise, nothing get done. Perhaps that was father's plan all along," Korinna answered with a levity but began to cough slightly when she laughed. Helen was not sure how to react but reached over to run her fingers upon the back of Korinna's shoulder-blades that sat just above the water, in what she hoped was a comforting gesture.
"I am still sorry my friend, even if you do not want to accept my sorrow," Helen stated and Korinna gave her an exasperated smile.
"I know Helen, I know." The two-woman sat in silence for a moment and for the first time Helen felt at a loss of what to say. Part of her wanted to state she felt more responsible since it was Paris who shot her, but a more selfish part of her did not want to ruin the moment. However, it seemed Korinna had other plans. "I think I will retire soon Helen and I think I should be able to manage well enough on my own."
"Are you sure you do not want me to stay?"
"I imagine Paris must be missing you terribly. I think I can spare you until the marrow. You are my friend after all, not nursemaid."
"Alright, but I'll check on you before I retire myself. Just to make sure you are alright," Hellen sighed.
"If that would give you peace of mind, my friend." With that Helen took that as her cue to exist. However, she noted that when she came back later in the evening, after having a small spat with Paris, that Korinna's door was locked. She wondered if she wanted solitude in order to remove the stresses of the day and decided that she would return in the morning.
Kind of Third person POV (just go with it)
Korinna watched her friend go with a sigh. While she was please to see Helen again, she forgot how exhausting it can be to help raise her spirits and, given how tired she was already, she felt slightly ashamed that did not want her company any longer. It also allowed Korinna a chance to digest all the events of the day and prepare for the onslaught of tomorrow. She sank into the stone bath until she was under the water, a soothing gesture she often did when stressed. She was surprised that the thought that caused the most stress was not facing King Priam or other Trojan officials but was that of Hector. Her Hector was now confirmed as Prince Hector, and Korinna struggled with that fact and the notion that he lied to her and that their relationship-of-sorts was built on it. It led to the more girlish worry of if his identity was the only thing he lied about, and it made her heart ache. 'What am I going to do?'
Meanwhile, it wasn't just Korinna who was wanting Helen to leave nor were having the same worries. Hector felt like a madman stalking the hallway where Briseis' old room were. He tried to make it as inconspicuous as possible, but he noticed his father giving him stranger and stranger looks throughout the day and it reminded him of the looks he gave Paris when he was sneaking off to see Helen. He already knew Helen knew so he imagined his father would not be too far behind and that thought alone made him feel more and more like a child trying to be sneaky.
Once he saw Helen leave the room he went into action and slipped in without her seeing him and quickly bolted the door behind him. It was then that he quickly took stock of the room and realized how different Briseis' rooms were to his own. They were much simpler with the only element of luxury was the small circular bath that lay indented into the floor. However, for a quick moment he thought he was alone in the room until a figure broke up from the water in the bath. Her naked back was too him and, while clean, was peppered with various layers of bruising but even then, it could not disguise its beauty. It reminded him of the day they met, so long ago it seemed now, where he thought her to be a goddess. If he did not know any better, he would have mistaken her for a sea nymph in this moment and all he wanted to do was go up an embrace her. However, Hector knew he needed to reign in his desires for a moment, now was not the time.
Hector was not fully sure how to make his presence known without it being too startling, this was the first time he snuck into a woman's room without invitation. So, he did what he thought any polite man would do, he coughed. He knew it would still startle Korinna and she did not disappoint. Korinna shrieked softly when she heard the presence so someone else in the room and cursed to herself that she decided not to keep that sword she stole with her. Turning and covering her naked form as best she could with an injured shoulder, she was surprised to see Hector standing there. He was no longer wearing his armor nor was he wearing the simpler garb of one in the working class, but a dark long robe with golden trim which signified his royal status.
"We need to stop meeting like this," Korinna stated both to try and break the tension she felt in the room but also because she did not know what else to say. What do you say when the man you love, who has lied to you the whole of the time you've known him, caught you alone while you bathe? It was not anything Korinna anticipated she would ever encounter in her life. "What are you doing here?"
"We need to speak," Hector stated calmly but the matter of fact tone put Korinna even more on edge.
"Now?" Korinna practically exclaimed but worried about making too much noise and alert anyone. She could not imagine this would look good on either of them, especially as she was an enemy Greek in Troy.
"I could not think of any other time and besides," Hector stated and grabbed a large clean cloth, clearly used for drying, and handed it to Korinna while begrudgingly turning his gaze away. "I could not stand to wait any longer."
"And what has caused the Prince of Troy such impatience?" Korinna asked, covering her font and lap with the cloth and moving to sit on the far edge of the bathe with her legs still within the water. She still wanted to maintain some sense of distance if just to help her strong facade stay true. Inside, Korinna felt like she was crumbling. Hector moved to sit next to her, needing closeness to feel grounded.
"I- I have stood in front of an army of 50,000. I have seen many of armed combat and have dealt with many diplomatic envelopes and have not trembled, have not faltered-"
"You are a brave man-" Korinna interrupted but Hector paired no mind.
"But now I feel that tremble, that fear, and it has nothing to do with war."
"What does it have to do with?"
"You."
"Me? How would I cause such a reaction? I am not frightening. It is I that is frightened of you," Korinna stated, feeling confused as to why Hector seemed frightened.
"Why?" Hector asked confused.
"Back when all of this started, the war, I will be honest and say I did not know what I was doing and went to collect my thoughts. During that time, I met a man and over time feelings for that man began to grow and bloom. I have now discovered that the soil that these feelings took root in was a lie. I now fear if the whole thing was a lie," Korinna explained trying to share her feelings in a way that made her not feel as venerable.
"It was not a lie for the man also met a similar fate and has a similar fear about the woman. Not just because his lie was discovered but due to her own lie in return," Hector answered, finding it easier to discussing his vulnerabilities this way and decided to follow her with this story.
"She didn't- I didn't lie. My father used to call me Kori. I just omitted the truth at times. I asked you if you were the Prince of Troy. You lied to me. How do I know that rest wasn't a lie?"
Hector could not think of a verbal way he could express that his feelings were true. It was something he was not used to, being emotionally vulnerable, and so he did the only thing he thought he could do to show his truthfulness. He leaned over and kissed her. It was a different kiss then the ones he gave her before, the passion in it was not one of longing, or desperation, or fear as the ones before, but one that expressed the burning devotion that he felt for this woman. He did not care who her brother was nor of the name she used. She was his woman, the one he wanted to love always, and he wanted her to know it. Sometime later did they break away, their bodies became closer to one another, with their foreheads resting together, eyes never separating. In the moment both received the knowledge that any fear they harbored for each other was resolved and they were able to bask in the relaxation that gave them.
"What happens now?" Korinna asked in a whisper, not wanting to escape this warm peace the two of them found. Hector smiled softly at her, brushing her face gently with his hands.
"Let us worry about that in the morning. For now, with your permission, I would like to show you how much I love you," Hector answered and, after receiving permission by way of Korinna's own kiss, were they finally able to truly express their passion for the other that they were not able to express before.