Desist, my much-lov'd lord,'t indulge your pain;
You bear no more than what the gods ordain.
-The Aeneid by Virgil. Book Two
The full moon bore down into my bedroom, shedding its silvery light upon my silent bed. From the west a breeze had picked up and gusted past my still silhouette, seated upon the barren ground. With my fingers, I had traced Creusa's name over and over again upon the glowing marble. It did not seem madness at the time, yet with the frame of mind I carried, to differentiate between sanity and lunacy would have been beyond me.
I cannot recall such a vivid pain as the one I felt that night. While rubbing my fingers into the marble until they grew tender, I hummed a wordless tune to myself, humming into the moonlight. Without resolve I rose and left my room, wandering aimlessly through the torch-lit hallways. Habit led me to a room deep within the inner walls of the citadel, and routine led me past the wooden doorway.
"Who...who is it?"
The soft female voice yawned and rose, squinting in the darkness.
"Creusa?"
There was a sharp intake of breath followed by a hiss.
"Aeneas! What are you doing here? If father finds out..."
I stood upon the threshold of the door, my face and body shrouded in shadow. Light filtered past my outline and a sliver fell upon Creusa's bed, bathing my love in warm firelight. Rising swiftly, she made haste towards me and began pushing me out.
"Aeneas, you must leave. Please..."
I could see her eyes watering and felt the inner pain she carried. I knew it broke her heart to banish me so. Ignoring the gentle shoves, I grabbed her by the shoulders and brought her into a hug. For a few moments she resisted, pounding against my chest and pulling at my clothes. Tears streaked down my cheeks as I held her.
"I cannot leave you Creusa. For your presence has never left me"
"Aeneas...please"
"I love you Cree..."
I felt her hot tears stain my chest as my beloved sagged against me. We stood like this for many minutes, our sniffles and tears speaking for us. At times, Creusa would cringe as if suddenly faced with a terrible fear. Clinging upon me, she'd cry out, my embrace tightening to stifle the pain. It was a while before I spoke.
"I don't want it to end like this, Cree"
"I cannot go against my father, my love. I'm sorry Aeneas, I am not strong enough"
If possible, I squeezed even tighter. I could feel her heart beat next to mine in a lamenting rhythm only we could understand. She pulled herself up and kissed the base of my neck, leaving my skin tingling with anguish. I reached for her lips and they met with a fiery passion I never felt before. There was anguish in the way the twain met, a ironic union signifying our parting. She pulled away, placing her fingers upon my lips, pushing my hungry mouth away.
"Please, Aeneas....Don't do this to me, I'll never be able to pull away. I am betrothed..."
I let go reluctantly. Creusa had bowed her head and turned back to her bed, leaving me alone once again. I did not stop her this time. The strength to press my fate just wasn't in me anymore. Closing her door behind me as I left, I paused for a moment to contemplate. My thoughts were rocked by a wail of anguish from within Creusa's chambers. It was followed by the sound of muffled crying which died down as quickly as they started. I slammed my fist against the rock solid walls and sighed. Why did the fates have to be so cruel?
I found my room in the state I had left it, devoid of life itself. From this death a life emerged, a brilliant shimmer of light which manifested itself as my mother upon my bed. Opening her arms to receive me, holy Aphrodite kissed my moist eyes.
"Have strength my son. This is a cruel fate those three have woven for you. Yet if you remember anything, you'll remember that nothing is written in stone. The Gods have a very personal interest in your progeny, yet they seem adamant to let the fates toy with you. And Priam should know better. He should pray he never sees the destruction love can cause "
I felt anger rise within her as she stroked back my hair. I did not understand her words. I did not want to understand her words. Creusa wasn't with me anymore, nothing mattered. I just clung to her as I had done with Cree.
"Mother, why have you come now, when everything's become lost to me?"
"To bring hope, Aeneas. Nothing is ever lost; It is simply out of sight"
"So are you going to give me Cree?"
Aphrodite chuckled.
"She was always yours, Aeneas..."
With these words, my mother began to fade and escaped from my embrace, leaving me strangely comforted. The shimmering light filtered into the moonlight as the sound of the restless sea once again dominated my senses. Although her words brought me comfort, they also confused me. What could possibly happen tomorrow that changed everything which inevitability itself had been rushing towards?
"A great war had broken out in Hellas, my King. Thebes, home to king Laodamas who himself is takes decent from accursed Oedipus, has been besieged. Seeking to avenge their murdered fathers, the sons of the first Seven have indeed set out to sack the walled city. Amongst them is Diomedes, son of Tydeus, and his fellow brethren. In consequence, they have allied with each other and cemented these alliances with marriages..."
Priam looked gravely upon the young messenger, his eyes troubled.
"What are you implying, Dolon?"
The messenger swallowed. Sent by Priam as a spy to the courts of Greece, the slender youngster still hadn't mustered the art of assertion.
"I do not imply, your majesty. Diomedes has married as well"
There was a collective gasp followed by a few sighs of relief. The court soon broke out into excited whispers as Priam contemplated the insult his honour had just received. Standing next to me, a sixteen year old Henicea squeezed my arm. Along with her, the members of Hecuba's family exchanged triumphant glances and a few even winked my way.
I did not know what to feel. Numb inside, I stood mute, trying to understand the enormity of what was happening. Creusa felt the same way. Trembling from head to toe next to her father, my love looked as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her slender shoulders. All eyes seemed to shift between myself and her, understanding our feelings.
Priam, in wrath, suddenly turned upon me.
"You!"
Suddenly jolted, I looked up at the king who dismounted from his throne.
"My King?"
Priam came to stand before me, his eyes burning with hateful anger. The whole throne room suddenly hushed to witness Priam's wrath upon the son of Anchises.
"You! You and your scheming mother have brought this upon Troy! Yesterday I was guaranteed a friendship with the Greeks and today, you and Aphrodite have conspired to strip me of any honour I had left. You are a bane to my Kingdom, Aeneas! This misfortune will cost me the Aegean. Because of you, a two bit Prince has rejected my daughter and slapped my face with insult"
"My mother does not incite war, Priam"
Priam, surprised by my words, grabbed my linen toga.
"You will refer to me as, 'Your Majesty', Aeneas. But then again, I had almost forgotten your cunning for a moment. You use your weakness to mask your growing ambition; the ambition to rule from my throne!"
The court, if possible, gasped louder. Hector, who stood silent near the throne, came to his father.
"Father! It does not become you to act this way. Leave Aeneas alone, please. He's already heartbroken, do not accuse him of being nefarious as well. All he desired was Creusa's hand in marriage. Do not hate him for that"
Priam seemed to shrink back at his son's touch. His eyes suddenly dulled and he seemed weary.
"You're right, Hector. I must still be seething at him for yesterday"
Turning back to me, Priam sighed.
"Forgive me, Aeneas. I did not mean what I said"
He bowed slightly next to my ear and whispered.
"But do not think for a second I do not know of your hidden agenda. I still feel nothing for you, Trojan Bane. Whatever I do now will be done because I know of your Mother and her influence. I must keep the gods appeased"
Turning once again to the court, Priam, with a smile, proclaimed.
"Come then, let us enjoin these two in blissful matrimony!"
Grasping my hand and leading me to his daughter, Priam put Creusa's slender hand into mine and clasped mine shut over it.
"There. It is done. Call your father boy, have him prepare a dowry"
A/N: Thanks for all those reviews guys! Though this chapter might be smaller than usual, I think it's somewhat important. In other news, I think I'll skip a few years and get to the interesting stuff next time. I also think I'll explain a few holes which seem to puncture this tale. Added to that, I seems to get this urge that we need to start seeing faces we love and hate (and how they interact with our lead).
P.S- I might decide to revamp this story a bit, so dont be too distraught of you see stuff askew.