AN: Thank you to all the loyal readers and reviewers. Please don't stop all your wonderful reviews and comments. It's very much appreciated. Remember I get discouraged very easily! Well, here's the next chapter of my fic. Hope all of you enjoy. Not much action here, but plenty of action will follow in the upcoming chapters. Don't forget to review when your done. Comments and suggestions are very much appreciated. Thank you again!

Part Three: Her Intervention

The torches of Troy are lit. It is peaceful tonight, just like any other night. I will surely miss this. This is my home. This is my only refuge. This is the place I can run to whenever my troubles seem to be overwhelming me. It makes me sad to leave it.

I think about the Elysian fields. I wonder what it is like there, and if it's as beautiful as this. Without my loved ones by my side, will I truly be at peace? I push the thought of afterlife aside. I will have plenty of time to think about it after all this is over.

A brilliant light suddenly flashes before my eyes. A visage of a beautiful woman appears before me. My eyes are captivated by her beauty. Looking into her eyes, I can feel my knees weaken . Her gaze is powerful and familiar. It is the goddess Aphrodite.

"Where do you go this night Paris?" shes asks of me. "To your doom I suppose? From your appearance, it seems so."

I say to her, "Goddess, you have not hearkened to my prayers. Tell me why?"

"It is against the wishes of Zeus to aid any mortal in this war," she begins to explain. "But as you now witness, I am here against his wishes and without his knowledge." She pauses and approaches me closer. I smell her divine perfume. It's intoxicating scent fills my lungs and makes my thoughts wander. "I come on behalf of Apollo," she continues. "He is too fearful of his father to come to you himself."

"What is the message, goddess?" I inquire of her as I struggle to resist the air of temptation surrounding her.

"You cannot go to the Greek camp and bargain with Achilles." Her face becomes serious, but it does not change her beauty.

"Why not?" I ask with curiosity. Despite what she has to say, nothing will stop me from my mission.

"Your life will be forfeit," she explains. "The fates have prophesied it. They are prepared to cut your thread of life."

Steadfastly, I reply, "I was already aware of that."

"You do not understand! Your death will change the course of events that were already set in motion. With your demise, you will accomplish your goal of saving your brother from death in the hands of Achilles. But what is more, Troy will prevail over the Greeks. That is not how this war is supposed to end."

"That is more reason for me to go then, is it not?" My heart is filled with gladness at the knowledge that my actions would save both my brother and Troy."

"You do not understand," Aphrodite's voice is more urgent. "Your death will herald the demise of the Olympian gods!"

The fear is clear and present in her voice. Before this I thought the god's were fearless and immortal. I realize that everything truly does come to an end.

"The fate of the Olympian gods is not my concern," I reply boldly. I could care less what happened to the gods of Olympus. They have brought nothing but suffering and despair to humanity. Even their blessings come at a high cost. The world could do without them. Their fate meant nothing to me.

"Blasphemer! Your utterance was not sincere?" Her voice clearly shows her anger. Fury raged within her very eyes. I grow fearful of her, but I will not let anyone get in my way. Not even the goddess Aphrodite.

"My words were sincere, goddess."

She stares at me and makes me feel rather uncomfortable. I begin to walk away from her for she is wasting my time.

"Are you not thankful for the good we have done for you?" She yells from a distance. I feel the very earth I tread upon tremble at the power of her voice. "I granted you the most beautiful woman in all of Greece! Are you not thankful?"

"I am thankful, " I reply with anger. I do not turn to look at her, but instead continue to walk. "But what has it cost me? My home? My family? My brother? My life? Will the gods stop at nothing to wreak havoc upon humanity?"

She is silent for a moment then speaks again in a more silent tone of voice.

"I always thought you too narrow-minded to see the destruction your decision to receive my gift would cause. You have grown wise Paris. I give you praise for that. But know this Prince of Troy: You will always be a coward before my eyes. You will fail in your quest just as you have failed so many others. I will make sure of it!"

Her words penetrate my ears, but not my heart. What would the gods know of love and compassion. Even the goddess of love failed to see its true essence. What would they know of true courage and selfless acts? They care about nothing but themselves.

The sky trembles. A bolt of lightning strikes a nearby tree. Aphrodite's wrath had caused it, I am sure. But she cannot harm me. She answers to a higher power. Her defiance of Zeus has its limits. If she were to strike me down, Zeus would learn of her disobedience. She may not admit it, nor would any other god on Olympus, but the power and authority of Zeus surpasses all others.

Her voice speaks in my head. She says, "I may not be able to stop you mortal, but I know of one who can."

For a moment her words confuse me. But I suddenly realize who this person she speaks of is. "Hector!" I utter aloud. If he were to learn of my plans it will ruin everything. I cannot allow that to happen! I must get to Achilles before Aphrodite informs Hector. Quickly, I sprint across the barren fields of Troy. Though the heat is making me weary, I push on. I cannot tire now. I must reach Achilles.

AN: So....? What do you all think of this chapter? Good? Bad? Boring Maybe? Not quite what you expected? Can't wait for more? Well, tell me what you think by clicking on the little review button! And stay tuned! Two more of your favorite Troy characters appear in the next chapter. I can't tell you who it is just yet. You never know what's going to happen in the next chapter! Review!