Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. Just the plot.
I convinced Menelaus to go to Athens, to 'visit my sister', after another night of merry making. I still felt worthless but Menelaus was completely subdued. It made me wonder about my beauty. Was I really that beautiful? Was I really that fair a face? The journey to Athens was short, but I knew my dreams had a long way to go. We got to Athens in less than two months. The first thing I did was to hug Clytemnestra tightly, just as when we were younger.
"Helen, I missed you so much!" I could hardly hold back tears. I finally got to see my sister after a year. While Agamemnon and Menelaus, the two brothers discussed politics; I sat on a swing in Clytemnestra's garden. It was a lovely place, with many flowers. I told her everything, from the part where I went to Athena's shrine.
She asked, "Achilles the great warrior is fated to help you? You'll win for sure then."
"I do hope so. Yet, I can hardly wield a dagger or sword."
"It takes time, Helen. I'm sure you'll be able to. Besides, here's something for you." She whispered something in my ear.
"A scout got this for me, after a lot of pleading. It was Achilles' address. I gasped, and thanked Clytemnestra non-stop. Would I finally be able to meet Achilles? My heart swelled with joy, but I realized I was harder than I thought. I didn't know Athens well at all. The address Clytemnestra gave me was on a mountain. I searched the entire afternoon but to no avail. My sandals were breaking under all that walking and my dress becoming dusty. Nevertheless, I still refused to give up. I had to find Achilles. He would ensure that my future would be bright. It was already late afternoon, almost evening. I was about to return to Agamemnon's palace and re-plan my strategy, when I saw a man practicing with a dagger. Could that be Achilles? I walked nearer and tried to make my footsteps softer. Yet, when I to a certain distance, he threw his spear at me, nearly killing me. He certainly was very observant.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"Please, Achilles, I need your help."
"You know of my name, and I do not know yours, yet you ask for my help." He gave a cynical smile. His 'smile' had the smugness, arrogance and stubbornness of a true warrior. He was going to be hard to convince. I had to be humble. I bowed.
"I am Helen of Sparta. I need your help in killing Menelaus and Agamemnon." He raised an eyebrow and said, " Very straight-forward. But tell me why I should help you? And besides, what can you offer me?"
"Achilles, I know what you want. Glory and fame? I can promise you all that if you help me."
"So. You want Greece, eh?" He asked. How did he know?
"Please."
"A girl with a strong will. Not bad." He held my chin.
"But no. I'm not interested." An emotion flitted across his face, then disappeared. That emotion was sadness. I took a gamble.
"But I'm sure Briseis and Penthesileia would want you to help."
"How do you know of them?" In the sudden change of tone in his voice, I realized that Mnemosyne was making him remember the past.
"Amphitrite."
"My aunt? She's heard quite a lot then." He was trying to digress.
"I'm sure they'd want you to become the valiant warrior you once were again."
"No. They wouldn't. Leave. I have nothing else to say to you." He turned and left.' Helen. Now you really said the wrong thing!' I thought. I managed to find Achilles after all that trouble and I had to offend him. What should I do?
I had to do without Achilles. I didn't blame him, for I knew his heart still hurt. But why did Athena show me such a glorious vision then? I felt confused. All the way from Sparta to Athens, I believed that once Achilles helped, I would be able to triumph over them. Now? I would have to try myself.
"He didn't agree to help?" asked Clytemnestra. I shook my head.
"It's not his fault actually."
"Why not?" I didn't tell her about his loves dying from him.
"Forget it. Do you have a dagger?" I wanted to try for myself. Clytemnestra got someone to fetch a long dagger for me. When it came, I tried to lift it up. I realized it was impossible. My arm quivered under the weight of the dagger.
' How do the warriors make it look so easy?' I swung the dagger like a machete. It was heavy and hard to use. Then I heard rustling. Someone was approaching.
Writer's block !! Who should approach , Achilles or Menelaus? Pleases help by reviewing! And before I can decide who to come( an important decision for the story), I shall have a 'make-everyone-clearer chapter'. Please continue reading.
I convinced Menelaus to go to Athens, to 'visit my sister', after another night of merry making. I still felt worthless but Menelaus was completely subdued. It made me wonder about my beauty. Was I really that beautiful? Was I really that fair a face? The journey to Athens was short, but I knew my dreams had a long way to go. We got to Athens in less than two months. The first thing I did was to hug Clytemnestra tightly, just as when we were younger.
"Helen, I missed you so much!" I could hardly hold back tears. I finally got to see my sister after a year. While Agamemnon and Menelaus, the two brothers discussed politics; I sat on a swing in Clytemnestra's garden. It was a lovely place, with many flowers. I told her everything, from the part where I went to Athena's shrine.
She asked, "Achilles the great warrior is fated to help you? You'll win for sure then."
"I do hope so. Yet, I can hardly wield a dagger or sword."
"It takes time, Helen. I'm sure you'll be able to. Besides, here's something for you." She whispered something in my ear.
"A scout got this for me, after a lot of pleading. It was Achilles' address. I gasped, and thanked Clytemnestra non-stop. Would I finally be able to meet Achilles? My heart swelled with joy, but I realized I was harder than I thought. I didn't know Athens well at all. The address Clytemnestra gave me was on a mountain. I searched the entire afternoon but to no avail. My sandals were breaking under all that walking and my dress becoming dusty. Nevertheless, I still refused to give up. I had to find Achilles. He would ensure that my future would be bright. It was already late afternoon, almost evening. I was about to return to Agamemnon's palace and re-plan my strategy, when I saw a man practicing with a dagger. Could that be Achilles? I walked nearer and tried to make my footsteps softer. Yet, when I to a certain distance, he threw his spear at me, nearly killing me. He certainly was very observant.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"Please, Achilles, I need your help."
"You know of my name, and I do not know yours, yet you ask for my help." He gave a cynical smile. His 'smile' had the smugness, arrogance and stubbornness of a true warrior. He was going to be hard to convince. I had to be humble. I bowed.
"I am Helen of Sparta. I need your help in killing Menelaus and Agamemnon." He raised an eyebrow and said, " Very straight-forward. But tell me why I should help you? And besides, what can you offer me?"
"Achilles, I know what you want. Glory and fame? I can promise you all that if you help me."
"So. You want Greece, eh?" He asked. How did he know?
"Please."
"A girl with a strong will. Not bad." He held my chin.
"But no. I'm not interested." An emotion flitted across his face, then disappeared. That emotion was sadness. I took a gamble.
"But I'm sure Briseis and Penthesileia would want you to help."
"How do you know of them?" In the sudden change of tone in his voice, I realized that Mnemosyne was making him remember the past.
"Amphitrite."
"My aunt? She's heard quite a lot then." He was trying to digress.
"I'm sure they'd want you to become the valiant warrior you once were again."
"No. They wouldn't. Leave. I have nothing else to say to you." He turned and left.' Helen. Now you really said the wrong thing!' I thought. I managed to find Achilles after all that trouble and I had to offend him. What should I do?
I had to do without Achilles. I didn't blame him, for I knew his heart still hurt. But why did Athena show me such a glorious vision then? I felt confused. All the way from Sparta to Athens, I believed that once Achilles helped, I would be able to triumph over them. Now? I would have to try myself.
"He didn't agree to help?" asked Clytemnestra. I shook my head.
"It's not his fault actually."
"Why not?" I didn't tell her about his loves dying from him.
"Forget it. Do you have a dagger?" I wanted to try for myself. Clytemnestra got someone to fetch a long dagger for me. When it came, I tried to lift it up. I realized it was impossible. My arm quivered under the weight of the dagger.
' How do the warriors make it look so easy?' I swung the dagger like a machete. It was heavy and hard to use. Then I heard rustling. Someone was approaching.
Writer's block !! Who should approach , Achilles or Menelaus? Pleases help by reviewing! And before I can decide who to come( an important decision for the story), I shall have a 'make-everyone-clearer chapter'. Please continue reading.