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Enjoy you read!
The huge gates of heavy wood creaked and were opened slowly, and with them came the screams and celebrations for the return of the princes to their homeland.
Clear petals of certain types of flowers were laid, and all the people of the city were gathered in the streets to wait. The uproar was general. The contagious energy, there were songs, dances, screams and more screams.
Helen of Sparta and Paris went ahead with Hector following them closely and Alessandra not far behind.
The air was warm, happy and magical. There was a tenderness in the air and peace. The people welcomed them with arms wide open.
Alessandra was riding on her huge stallion, the black skin of the animal gleaming in the hot sun sparkled in Troy. There were more screams, and one of the petals that rained down from the sky had caught in her long hair that swung with the summer breeze. He felt an urge to smile.
"Welcome back to Troy, my princes!" Shouted the people.
"Welcome back to home!"
And that was the truth. They were all back home.
"But ... she would remain standing for much longer?"Alessandra questioned only to herself.
Deep down she knew it would be inevitable that the war was coming. Paris made a mistake - a big and terrible mistake that his sister didn't know if she ever could forgive -, but the battle for earth, rock and sand that belonged to Troy would come sooner or later.
Agamemnon had already received the news of Helen escape - wife of his brother - to Troy? Were he currently browsing in the many vessels would tear, however, the waters of the Aegean Sea? If so, what are the famous warriors to come his way in his relentless pursuit of glory and death?
Ajax, maybe? After all, everyone knew that this man never waste a moment to show all his brute force on the battlefield.
Odysseus? He was intelligent, truly intelligent, but even with all wisdom carrying in his brain, he and Alessandra knew that it couldn't have an enemy as Agamemnon and his army.
Together with the Greeks who approached also would Achilles and his Myrmidons?
Alessandra didn't know, but something inside her told her so.
However, she questioned one more time how many would be men who would die in this battle that count of word of mouth, and in paper for centuries... Hundreds? Thousands?
How many would have to perish and deliver two gold coins to travel through the underworld land seeking peace that they didn't have in life? How many would have to die for the folly of two youths who thought they were in love and the greed of a vile man? Because yes, Agamemnon was a disgusting man who didn't deserve the ground he walked on. His greatest sin was greed and lust for power that it brought with it from hand to hand.
Sighing, she looked around.
She noticed that on top of a hovel, several women whispered to each other, pointing to Helen. Surely they knew who she was by the stories that were cast by people curious. Alessandra felt a deep satisfaction when she knew that at that moment the blonde who was with her younger brother, should have noticed too. This ungrateful woman ever wore a golden crown as if she were a princess of Troy and not Alessandra. The warrior couldn't wait to throw she back to the beach, maybe in the company of her brother.
"They're excited." Whispered Hector in her right ear. "They must have been waiting for a long time." He smiled slightly despite the smile didn't reach his brown eyes.
Alessandra sighed slightly, feeling a chill in the stomach. "They don't will be happy for much longer." And that phrase put an abrupt end to the conversation.
Finally reached the beautiful stone palace that was their home since birth. Hector helped Alessandra to dismount Thunder, who neighed loudly as if to say, "I don't will hurt her" and together, hand in hand, advanced and up the staircase.
Priam waited their sons and daughter with open arms. His hair and beard-colored silver contrasted with the dark blue of his garments.
"My son!" Saluted Priam, hugging his eldest son and getting two kisses from he. His face was serene, but happiness was visible in his pale eyes. "My dear child." Continued the king, while Hector walked away and Alessandra approached the father with a bright smile. Priam held her cheeks carefully and tenderly kissed her. "It was just weeks but your beauty seems to spread like wildfire throughout our land."
Alessandra shook her head slightly, her hair swinging with the sudden movement. "My beauty is not something I care my father, but I appreciate your compliment."
The princess turned away too, stopping next to Hector and taking his the hand. Paris was next to approach the king and if possible the eyes of Priam have become even brighter.
Priam loved all his children, but it wasn't necessarily a secret that Paris was his favorite. No matter that Hector was always there for the King, who tried to follow in his footsteps, and that both, he and Alessandra, fighted many battles for Troy while Paris was rolling in bed with different women. Paris would always be his favorite.
"Father. This is Helen." Paris pointed down a notch and motioning for Helen approached.
Alessandra grabbed the hand of Hector tightly, holding back not to attack her younger brother. Hector returned the grip with a more comforting.
"Helen? Helen of Sparta? "Questioned Priam. His voice remained calm but tension rose over his body like a hot flame.
"Helen of Troy." Paris corrected.
No more words were necessary to know that Paris was pleading, begging for his father left Helen stay. Alessandra wanted to scream, roar. She wanted Helen's head on a spit. Who was she to start a war in her house? Who was Helen to try to take her place as princess of Troy and daughter of King Priam, who wanted the same look at her with eyes full of love as he looked to Paris?
At the bottom would always Paris. Paris would have all, while Alessandra and Hector would have the second place, dirty with blood and reeking of death of the enemies whom they faced to keep the peace in Troy. Everything would be so that Paris could begin a new adventure with another woman.
Everyone knew that Priam would do anything for his youngest son.
"I've heard rumors of your beauty. For once, the gossips were right. Welcome."
And then something inside Alessandra let up, roaring and attacking the walls of flesh that held him in his cell, well within her intimate. She was furious. Her blood seemed lava and a bitter taste flooded her palate.
Addressing Helen, she said:
"The king may have agreed to you stay here, but I want you to understand that you will never be a daughter of Troy. Our people will not accept you, you shall be known to them as foolish and perverted woman who left her husband and daughter back, and was looking for princes of other countries to make her nights warmed. "She exclaimed furiously to Helen, who shuddered as if it had been whipped. "You brought the war to our doors, Helen of Spart, and I want you to have the notion that if I'm in the way between you and a sword, I'll smile when your soul leaves your body and I will pray to the gods that your pain last a little longer! "
And with a horrible tension the royal family and Helen entered the doors, being greeted by applause. Andromache, wife of Hector waited them anxiously, beautiful as ever. Hector was quick to kiss her on the lips with all the love he had. Andromache looked at Alessandra wanting to approach, but realized the intense tone of her eyes, and gestured that she would talk to her later.
Without further ado, Alessandra left there.
Alessandra was now sitting on her bed, reveling in the comfort that the same provided. Her head was at the wheel, felt her world to collapse. The sky outside had not clouds but Alessandra felt as if the sun Apollo had completely gone.
Cassandra ran her lon and, thin fingers through the dark hair of the warrior. She was holding her hair in a complicated and well-crafted braid as she listened her sister muttering to herself.
"It's fine. Everything will be fine. "She tried to reassure her, while Alessandra sighed in frustration.
Alessandra shrugged taking care to not disrupt Cassandra in their task.
"Even you don't believe in your own words, my sister." She pointed.
"No." Agreed Cassandra. "You're right. In these I don't believe. "She finished braiding her hair and Alessandra looked at her.
Those who said that Cassandra of Troy wasn't beautiful, would be lying. She was similar to Alessandra, but so different at the same time. She had blue eyes, curly hair a few shades lighter than her sister, but nevertheless she had the same lips and nose. Her features were harmonious and she had heart-shaped face.
"Why we don't will gather roses?" Questioned Cassandra, with a vacant look.
Alessandra refused to change the subject. They were arguing for what seemed like hours about the coming war but no one seemed to understand the seriousness of it. Alessandra had tried to talk to her father about the matter, but he showed confidence that the war had already been won. Only Hector agreed that this would be the toughest fight of their life.
"I think..." Alessandra sighed deeply with a pure semblance of regret. In the distance a fleet of a thousand ships approached the beach of Troy, but she still didn't know that. She glanced at Cassandra to whom nobody believed. "You always know that it would be like this, i'm right aren't I? Since Paris opened his eyes to this world, you knew he would be the destruction of Troy. "
Cassandra was older than Alessandra and Paris, and was considered crazy by the people and their parents. She was a princess, but sometimes no one treated her as such. Not that she cared, she knew that everything she said was true, and so knew Alessandra because Ares confided her the secret that Apollo cursed her sister. She didn't know the reason for such punishment, but she don't talk about that.
Cassandra didn't say anything for too long time. Inspired and expired, and approached a little to her sister.
"Sometimes the gift of knowing is also a curse." She confessed.
"I suppose, when no one believes in the predictions." Agreed Alessandra.
"But you believe in it, don't you?"
"I never doubted." She said. "Troy will remain standing?"
The oldest got a serene and blank face. Her lips parted up and her eyes remained wide for a minute. For what seemed an eternity she was so still as one of the statues that decorated the palace. Finally she back to herself and with an expression of regret, she said:
"I fear that my answer is not what you want to hear, little sister."
Alessandra understood the meaning of those words. Her home... would eventually fall. She nodded absently, watching the horizon that seemed so far away.
"What can I do to change that?" She questioned strongly.
Cassandra joined her now in the stone porch for which Alessandra walked. She took her both hands, and placed a tender kiss on each palm.
"I'm afraid nothing can be done."
"There has to be something." The newest refused to budge.
"Alessandra, the Fates have written the destiny of our country since the first stone was placed on this earth. If it is their desire, Troy will survive. "Cassandra stroked her face gently. "I can not tell you more. However I see you in the end of all of this. Throughout this war you will know someone, and that someone will help you. "
Alessandra looked at the face of her sister in confusion. Furrowing her dark eyebrows, she asked:
"Help me in what way?"
"In many ways." It was her vague answer. and the warrior had the feeling that Cassandra was having with her frustration.
"It will help me with the battle? Will help me win? "
"You quickly will perceive that not everything happens on the battlefield with your enemies." Smiling moved away a bit, she walked up to one of the four corners, where Alessandra watched her armor and sword glisten in the sun. "You will understand one day."
The blessed Ares waited, and waited. She looked to Cassandra who ran her hands by the armor of her sister while she humming some melody softly. The sound was sorry and mournful.
But then the moment so fearfully awaited happened. Cassandra looked up suddenly and took aim at the horizon.
"They are here." Exclaimed the exact moment when the sounds of bells rang, so the guards gave their signal.
Alessandra walked across the room. She was helped by her sister to put a dark-colored armor. It was tough, but lightweight and easy to move. The instant she put her shining sword at her waist, Cassandra kissed her at length faces.
"Please, sister, stay here and don't leave!"
"I will not leave. Before you go, I want you to understand that there are people that you can't always save. She will be fine." Cassandra assured her.
Alessandra wanted to ask who she was, but she stopped. Instead she nodded. "Paris made a big mistake."
And then she left the room like an arrow. She ran and ran, almost flew. Her feet barely touched the ground. She fells the heart in her throat. It would be so Lord Hermes, would feel when he was running?
At the time she joined Hector, Thunder already trotted beside her. She was quick to hoist, sitting at last on its back.
"I thought you will not come." Commented Hector, smiling slightly.
"And let you have all the fun? Now, brother, maybe you don't know me as well as you think. "She laughed despite the situation. The excitement began to invade you veins rapidly.
"I know you better than yourself."
They galloped through the streets to reach the gates and preparing the small number of men who were there.
"Alessandra! Alessandra!" Someone shouted. Alessandra quickly identified as Cassandra ran toward her with something in hand.
"What are you doing here?" The youngest cried, urging Thunder in meeting her beautiful sister. "I told you to don't leave the palace" Her figure was eerily stunning there, mounted her horse and prepared for battle.
Cassandra gasped breathlessly. "You forget your... you forget your shield."
And Alessandra noticed that she was right when she observed the object in the hands of her sister. Her shield nothing looked like the usual of Troy. It was bright, so bright it almost blinded her - this was one of the tricks that Ares had taught her: "Blinding your enemies will give you a few seconds of advantage" -, and instead of the horse representing Troy, in the center of her shield was the image of Ares, roaring red sword of blood with a large boar on his left. Was a gift of mentioned.
Alessandra took the shield and stooping, kissed the forehead of her sister. She feared never saw Cassandra again. "Conceal yourself Cassandra, I will come back quickly."
Cassandra smiled. "Oh, I know you will" And vanished from her sight, while the younger galloped once again to near of Hector.
The same recited in a loud voice to men who listened attentively. Follow the princes to the end of the world. "All my life, I've lived by a code. And this code is simple: Honor the gods, love your woman, and defend your country!"
"Troy is mother to us all." Said Alessandra, now taking the word and getting the same attention as Hector received. The Trojans couldn't ask for better leaders. "Fight for her, and I will fight for you!" And with a cry, the only woman among all those warriors cast a spear that her brother gave her, heading for the beach of Troy which were being invaded in few minutes.
And it was those moments that Alessandra so hated as loved. She couldn't wait, it seemed stupid enemies linger both come, and even more stupid it took so much that they were close enough to have their throat cut by her blade.
It was as if a red mist of smoke invaded her mind and erase everything and anything that wasn't the enemies that now she could see the moor on the sands of her beach. She didn't remember Paris, or Cassandra or Helen - that stupid woman -, or her father. Why she was really there? Why would fight for something, just for a city so like many others? But was at this time that she understood that she wasn't made for nothing else than to fight.
She didn't notice, but it was too late for the archers when Hector, she and the rest of the men reached the shore. The sand was red stain.
In the distance, at the entrance of the temple, they remained three people standing. Three enemy men and the decapitated statue of Apollo, such a shameful offense off the Greeks.
In the center, the man of golden hair, waited a moment and finally launched in impressive speed a spear that was reached in full the man next to Hector. Ikaros was dead before he hit the ground.
Alessandra stopped Thunder, halting in the sand. Many may feel that she flinched when in reality she smiled, smiled hugely. Finally, there was outside their match.
Firmly, she grabbed the spear, squinting on her goal, and casting it to the end in the air, she watched it hit the throat of the red-haired man who was in the side of the golden hair as quickly and accurately. It was an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, and soldier for soldier.
The two survivors turned back and entered the temple, however, the blond commander had time to look at Hector smugly. He ignored his dead companion.
"Wait..." said Alessandra preventing Hector forward. "They conquered the beach, there must be more. It's a trap." But her words was ignored and Hector urged the men to follow him.
However, Alessandra didn't follow, and Hector hadn't seemed to notice. The moment she walked around the temple addressing the other entrance heard screams and the sound of the swords crashed into swords.
"Pathetic." She whispered. Alessandra knew it was a trap and still not received attention. Sometimes her brother seemed to forget that she was so inteligente as him. The outcry was soon cut off abruptly, and the voice of Hector sounded clear the more she approached.
"You speak of war as if it's a game. But how many wives wait at Troy's gates for husbands they'll never see again?" Hector questioned, disbelief as Alessandra watched the scene unfold.
They were more than ten and Hector was only one.
"Perhaps your brother can comfort them." Said the other man who Alessandra had seen at the main entrance of the temple, in a hoarse voice full of fun. He was blond, strong, and beautiful. Extremely beautiful. He had blue eyes, skin kissed by the sun, a strong trunk, and the muscles of the legs and arms were well toned. "I hear he's a good at charming other men's wives."
And then Alessandra guffawed loudly calling everyone's attention to himself.
"I can't agreed more." She smiled at him, walking proudly among the fighting men - Myrmidons, she realized -, as if they weren't there. She wasn't afraid. They were good, but she was better. "Unfortunately, this is a defect that Paris never knew how to control."
All eyes were on her, but she only saw him ahead. Achilles... He also seemed unable to take the eyes off her. She approached further, just a few centimeters away from the tall and strong man.
"We finally met, Brave Achilles. I have to tell you that your deeds have traveled by wind up to my ears." She whispered.
Achilles smirked, extremely fun and wonder. She was beautiful... almost a goddess in human form.
"Princess Alessandra, I presume." He looked at her from head to toe. Odysseus was right when he said that she was beautiful and looked like an Amazon. Then was she who had killed Ignotus with the at the temple entrance. "They told me that your beauty, and I have to admit that I agreed." He confided.
"I don't like of beautiful words, especially emanating from the mouth of one of the men who killed the children of my country."
They approached, were now even closer. She felt his warm breath on her face.
"These things happen, Princess, I think you aren't so innocent if the stories about you are true."
Alessandra shrugged her shoulders indifferent. It was true. "The only men who I had killed, have foolish intention to invade my country and enslave my sisters, then tell me king of Phtia what kind of blood stain your hands?"
"Don't you want to know?"
"Of course yes. I also want to know what kind of man without honor, kills innocent men, men who didn't have any kind of weapon to defend as those who now lie on the stone floor of the temple?" It wasn't hard to guess that the priests were dead.
Achilles felt an inexplicable desire to defend himself of that accusation. She was... he had no words. He remembered Odysseus talk about the fire burning inside her, and he was perfectly able to observe the flame in her unusual eyes. As seductive tone of reddish-brown.
"I assure you princess, I've killed men in five countries but never a priest." He said softly, as if only she could hear.
Alessandra sighed softly, almost erratically. She had been so driven to kill everything and everyone. That was her function, wasn't it? She was born to fight, and she would bathe in the blood of her fallen enemies. So why the red mist evaporated suddenly of her mind when she look at him...? This challenging Greek!
"Your confession isn't much when you allow your men to do it for you. Why you came to here, Achilles? A man like you wouldn't let himself be led by a man like Agamemnon."
"You are right, princess, I don't allow." Achilles loved the way she knew he wasn't a mere errand man for some fat and drunk king.
"You come for the gold? The earth?" Alessandra questioned, watching the golden hair swinging in the sea breeze." You come by the necessity of death and suffering? Or you wish some Trojan women to warm your bed?"
"None of these suggestions, princess. As I said to your brother, I only came here for a reason." Achilles confided, don't caring about the tense form of the Prince of Troy as he watched his closeness to his sister. "I came here because of my name."
Alessandra smiled.
"It's the glory that you clams." She realized, even smiling. "All true warriors wish the same thing." She walked away slowly, very slowly, approaching Hector who quickly joined her. "I warn you, greek warrior, that every man and woman who lives behind those walls will fight with every weapon and shield they have, they will fight with tooth and nails. They never will submit to a man like that who has led you here."
Achilles smiled back, looking at her. He could look for hours at this woman. "I don't expect anything of the people guided by you. Go home, prince and princess. Drink some wine, make love to your wife and husband. Tomorrow we'll have our war. "
"I don't have a husband." Alessandra admitted don't knowing why. She only knew she had to say this.
Achilles smiled inside, although he doesn't show. He knew she wasn't married, but he just had to hear those words come out the beautiful color pink lips.
"Thunder." Alessandra cried out to the air, hearing the neighing of her stallion approaching and stopping at the end of the staircase. Llooked at Achilles slightly smiling with something different in her eyes. "I hope you get what you seek." She said.
Achilles was speaking the truth when he answered: "I hope you keep your country safe and sound."
And with one last look, Alessandra descended the stairs slowly, with no rush. She reached Hector who was mounted his brown horse, as she hoisted again on her stallion and urged him to go ahead.
Alessandra felt the warm look of Achilles on her back, across the silver shield she carried.
Who knew that the meeting of the two warriors would look like this?
