Disclaimer: Only own Alana.
Author's note: I know you all want answers : ) But you're like the characters, so by the moment, only Priam and I know the answers : ) be patient!
Chapter 6
I hated that feeling.. when you experience a deep sorrow and you feel a pressure in your chest.. this was how I felt in that moment, looking in the distance, as the ship was sailing in the middle of nowhere. The whole day had been terribly boring, spent alone and without talking to anybody. The breeze became colder, sunset was coming. The sky turned into red just on the line over the sea, sending crimson rays of light. If I wasn't in that situation, I would have said it was the nicest view I had ever seen before.
I wrapped my arms around myself, wondering when would someone come to tell me a word. The men behind me were concentrated on their sailing job, Paris and Hector were missing somewhere inside the sea craft. I turned around, doubting. Then, decided to change the day a bit, I walked towards the small wooden door that was closed, the door that led to the cabin. I didn't knock, just opened it. And then, went downstairs. All around me was dark, if it wasn't because of the red sunset light , I wouldn't have noticed the small beds inside , where the two men were laying. Behind me, a small kind of kitchen, with some fruits and barrels of water. I took a cup and collected something to drink, trying not to make noises that could wake them up. Then, sitting on a small chair, I waited. The whole situation was odd.
A movement from one of the beds called my attention. Hector turned around, laying on his left arm, his eyes closed. His breathing was slow and deep. His face looked so innocent in that moment, and I couldn't help thinking of how young the people who had changed history so much were. He moved his arm again, touching his hair. Then, opened his eyes, and looked at me, surprised.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, sitting down. Then nodded. "I completely forgot about you, my apologies.. you must be hungry and thirsty "He looked at me, waiting for a reply that didn't come. Then smiled. "I always forget that you can't speak my tongue.." Standing up, he walked towards me, taking a dish with fruits. "What if we have dinner outside? It's a nice night.."
I couldn't say I wasn't surprised with that offer, after being ignored during the whole day. But I had to pretend that none of his words had been understood, and in that time I wasn't sure about my acting abilities, any clever person could have read my face. But it was dark there, and it saved me. After a moment of silence, Hector sighed and took my arm gently, pointing at the stairs. I nodded, following him.
Once outside, he chose a distant part where we sat and started our dinner. A couple of stars were already shinning in the sky, and the sun had already disappeared. The sea was calmed, and the sound of the waves against the ship's prow was relaxing. The breeze moved Hector's hair, and I didn't realise I was staring at him until he looked at me.
"You are very brave, Alana.. you're a girl.. who accepted to travel with a bunch of men.." He smiled, and I tried not to. "Nothing bad will happen to you in Greece.. I'm just wondering about Agamemnon's reaction when he will see you. "He bit an apple, his gaze lost in the distance. He was right, I hadn't thought about that. How would they explain my presence in Greece?
"Agamemnon?" I asked, innocently, as if I knew his name. Hector stared at me.
"Maybe you're finally learning our language, after being with us a couple of days?" His smile was nicer then, when he was alone, out of his palace. He looked more sincere. "Yes, Agamemnon.. he's the brother of the king Menelaus.. he's a bad man, if you want my opinion.." He said this in a whisper, as if it was a secret. If he only knew I was understanding everything.. He was more talkative than I had thought at first. It seemed he needed someone, and now that Andromache wasn't there.. soon I realised about her fears. This was the thing that made her scared. That Hector would find on me someone trustful. I felt bad for that, somehow I was breaking the promise I had made her.
Hector stopped talking when we heard steps coming upstairs. Paris showed up, with an asleep look on his face. Then, it changed into a surprised look in his dark eyes. I felt something strange in my stomach, something I couldn't define. Frowning, I saw him sitting next to Hector and picking up some fruit from the dish.
"Having a nice dinner under the stars?" He said, with a playful smile, and Hector smiled as well.
"We're just talking.." With this statement, Paris opened his mouth in surprise.
"Talking? I thought she couldn't speak our tongue.." Hector shrugged. Paris waited for his reply with an inpatient look.
"I suppose I was talking and she was just listening.." His voice sounded apologising, as if he was ashamed for that. Paris went on eating, without making any remark. I looked at the sky. It was completely dark, full of stars. A starry night.
"Hector.. "Paris sighed, looking at his brother. "What will we do with her?" I held my breath, trying not to look at them. Hector took some time to reply.
"I don't know.. we can't introduce her as my wife.. neither as a sister.. she has to be someone important for this mission of peace, but who? I can't invent anything proper, and our father didn't give us any instructions at this point.. I have to admit that I'm completely lost" Now I felt their gazes on me. I turned my head and looked in their eyes. Hector was worried, frowning. And Paris.. I saw a new fear in his eyes.
"I hope you don't plan to say that she's my wife.." My heart started beating fast, hoping I wouldn't hear an affirmative answer from Hector.
"No, of course" I sighed, relieved. Paris did the same. "It's not that easy.. if she pretended to be your wife, they would be offended because they weren't invited to the wedding, or informed about it.. no, we must think about something different.. and the thing that she doesn't speak Greek doesn't make situation easier.."
Now I wondered why, if situation would become complicated, then Priam didn't want people to know I was able to speak their tongue. Probably there were hidden reasons, but I couldn't guess which were they. Andromache and Paris already knew my secret, but they didn't tell a word to Priam or Hector.. why?
"A servant. This is it" I felt shocked when Hector spoke. A servant? Travelling with a group of men?
"A servant?" Paris read my mind, and looked at me. "How do you plan to explain it to them?"
"You know what kind of people are them.. what do they do when they find a girl, a sort of slave.. we must say that we found her and that we kept her. If we do this, nobody will disturb her. Because she belongs to us. Agamemnon will respect our wishes" Hector stood up, looking at me, and then turned around. "Those men should sleep.. this will be along journey" He walked towards the group, leaving me alone with Paris. I observed him. He was staring at the sky, thinking about something. Then with a sigh, looked at me, I held his gaze for a while.
"This is absurd.. "He whispered. I was too shocked to think about anything.. I remembered the role of servant girls in those times, and the idea made me scared. What if another man wanted me? What if they left me alone? My hands were shaking, and Paris noticed it. "Why did you come, if you didn't want? "In that moment, I wondered about his sudden change of attitude towards me. I also wondered if I should go on pretending, or if I could finally speak with him, if he already knew my secret. The rest of people were too far away to hear me. I decided to run the risk.
"I didn't choose it" The sound of my own voice surprised both of us. Paris didn't expect me to speak, and he smiled.
"I'm glad to hear some words form you" And after many hours wishing to talk, I found myself speechless. What was wrong with me? "And now, can you please tell me the whole story, from the beginning?"
"You're asking something impossible" I replied, afraid of what I had done. I had broken a promise to Priam, and now I knew that Paris wouldn't stop until he found out about all my hidden secrets.
"Something impossible? You think you have more rights to share a secret with my father than me? I'm his son, and I'll inheritate this right one day" His dark eyes were shinning with anger. I looked back in the same way.
"But by the moment, those rights belong only to your father" He stared at me, surprised.
"The first time you speak, and you're talking like a.. like a.. "Anger didn't let him talk, and when we heard Hector approaching, we both remained quiet. But I still could feel his anger.
"I think it's about time to get some sleep.. "Hector said, looking at me. "And I'm afraid you'll have to share room with us, Alana.. there's not too much space inside this ship.. "I followed him inside the cabin, and looked back at Paris, who was still sitting there, watching at me.
We went downstairs, and Hector lit a small torch, giving a magical appearance to that small place. The third bed was placed in front of Paris one, in parallel. Hector fixed the blanket and pillow for me, and I smiled. He looked like a small boy and, in reality, he was the strongest man I had ever seen in person.
"Here you have.. I hope you'll sleep well.. I'm afraid we don't have a real bath, but this small place.." He walked towards a wooden door, opening it. A dark cabin with a hole on the ground. Hector looked embarrassed. I supposed it was a kind of toilet, and nodded, smiling. He went to his own bed, and I laid on mine, throwing some water over the torch. Darkness came, and for some minutes, everything was peaceful and quiet. I was surprised to see how fast had Hector fallen asleep.
Finally my eyes got used todarkness, and from the open door, upstairs, I could see Paris' shape under the moonlight. He was coming in silence. I closed my eyes quickly, covering half of my face with the blanket. He was standing in front of me, removing his shirt and stepping into his bed. Our heads were in parallel and I didn't dare to open my eyes. My heart was beating so fast, and I couldn't understand why. Maybe because I knew that Paris disliked me. Now that his father and I had this special friendship.. if Paris only knew how much I wished to talk to both brothers about my situation. How I wished to be comforted and sent back home.. then, I remembered what I had seen on the camera.. if pictures from the camera showed future.. and I didn't appear on them.. then.. I would never come back home..
The simple thought made me cry. Tears were falling from my face. I was condemned to live in a time I didn't belong to. Without any choice. How unfair life was, and how unfair that I had to be alone, hated by Paris and ignored by Hector. Still crying, I opened my eyes in the darkness.. Paris was sleeping. And tears went on falling.
-------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ---- --------------------
Paris suspected that his father had sent her to make something important. She didn't seem to know anything about Sparta and king Menelaus, or about the problems between the two kingdoms. But his father Priam trusted her so much that he sent her with them with no doubt.. but why? That was a mission of peace, nobody would make a war out of it, quite the opposite.. they would just meet the king, have a dinner with him and go back home.. what could happen there, in Sparta, that could change the course of history? Paris didn't know. He saw everything so clear, so plain. It was like going to a party.. why would Priam send Alana to a party?
She was crying , he could hear her from his bed. Soon, he felt sorry about everything.. he felt guilty for being rude with her. He hadn't think of that until then, the weight of the responsibility she was carrying, the strong promises she had made and that she had to keep.. he wondered, for the first time since they met, how was she feeling.. he felt the need to get up and go to talk to her, ask her what was wrong.. but he couldn't. He opened his eyes fast enough to see that she was closing hers. She had been observing him. With a sigh, he turned around and laid back, thinking of Greece. Of the meeting with Menelaus.. just a mission of peace. What could go wrong? Just two days in Sparta, only two days.. and then they would return to Troy with the mission done. If he only could know..
Author's note: I know you all want answers : ) But you're like the characters, so by the moment, only Priam and I know the answers : ) be patient!
Chapter 6
I hated that feeling.. when you experience a deep sorrow and you feel a pressure in your chest.. this was how I felt in that moment, looking in the distance, as the ship was sailing in the middle of nowhere. The whole day had been terribly boring, spent alone and without talking to anybody. The breeze became colder, sunset was coming. The sky turned into red just on the line over the sea, sending crimson rays of light. If I wasn't in that situation, I would have said it was the nicest view I had ever seen before.
I wrapped my arms around myself, wondering when would someone come to tell me a word. The men behind me were concentrated on their sailing job, Paris and Hector were missing somewhere inside the sea craft. I turned around, doubting. Then, decided to change the day a bit, I walked towards the small wooden door that was closed, the door that led to the cabin. I didn't knock, just opened it. And then, went downstairs. All around me was dark, if it wasn't because of the red sunset light , I wouldn't have noticed the small beds inside , where the two men were laying. Behind me, a small kind of kitchen, with some fruits and barrels of water. I took a cup and collected something to drink, trying not to make noises that could wake them up. Then, sitting on a small chair, I waited. The whole situation was odd.
A movement from one of the beds called my attention. Hector turned around, laying on his left arm, his eyes closed. His breathing was slow and deep. His face looked so innocent in that moment, and I couldn't help thinking of how young the people who had changed history so much were. He moved his arm again, touching his hair. Then, opened his eyes, and looked at me, surprised.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, sitting down. Then nodded. "I completely forgot about you, my apologies.. you must be hungry and thirsty "He looked at me, waiting for a reply that didn't come. Then smiled. "I always forget that you can't speak my tongue.." Standing up, he walked towards me, taking a dish with fruits. "What if we have dinner outside? It's a nice night.."
I couldn't say I wasn't surprised with that offer, after being ignored during the whole day. But I had to pretend that none of his words had been understood, and in that time I wasn't sure about my acting abilities, any clever person could have read my face. But it was dark there, and it saved me. After a moment of silence, Hector sighed and took my arm gently, pointing at the stairs. I nodded, following him.
Once outside, he chose a distant part where we sat and started our dinner. A couple of stars were already shinning in the sky, and the sun had already disappeared. The sea was calmed, and the sound of the waves against the ship's prow was relaxing. The breeze moved Hector's hair, and I didn't realise I was staring at him until he looked at me.
"You are very brave, Alana.. you're a girl.. who accepted to travel with a bunch of men.." He smiled, and I tried not to. "Nothing bad will happen to you in Greece.. I'm just wondering about Agamemnon's reaction when he will see you. "He bit an apple, his gaze lost in the distance. He was right, I hadn't thought about that. How would they explain my presence in Greece?
"Agamemnon?" I asked, innocently, as if I knew his name. Hector stared at me.
"Maybe you're finally learning our language, after being with us a couple of days?" His smile was nicer then, when he was alone, out of his palace. He looked more sincere. "Yes, Agamemnon.. he's the brother of the king Menelaus.. he's a bad man, if you want my opinion.." He said this in a whisper, as if it was a secret. If he only knew I was understanding everything.. He was more talkative than I had thought at first. It seemed he needed someone, and now that Andromache wasn't there.. soon I realised about her fears. This was the thing that made her scared. That Hector would find on me someone trustful. I felt bad for that, somehow I was breaking the promise I had made her.
Hector stopped talking when we heard steps coming upstairs. Paris showed up, with an asleep look on his face. Then, it changed into a surprised look in his dark eyes. I felt something strange in my stomach, something I couldn't define. Frowning, I saw him sitting next to Hector and picking up some fruit from the dish.
"Having a nice dinner under the stars?" He said, with a playful smile, and Hector smiled as well.
"We're just talking.." With this statement, Paris opened his mouth in surprise.
"Talking? I thought she couldn't speak our tongue.." Hector shrugged. Paris waited for his reply with an inpatient look.
"I suppose I was talking and she was just listening.." His voice sounded apologising, as if he was ashamed for that. Paris went on eating, without making any remark. I looked at the sky. It was completely dark, full of stars. A starry night.
"Hector.. "Paris sighed, looking at his brother. "What will we do with her?" I held my breath, trying not to look at them. Hector took some time to reply.
"I don't know.. we can't introduce her as my wife.. neither as a sister.. she has to be someone important for this mission of peace, but who? I can't invent anything proper, and our father didn't give us any instructions at this point.. I have to admit that I'm completely lost" Now I felt their gazes on me. I turned my head and looked in their eyes. Hector was worried, frowning. And Paris.. I saw a new fear in his eyes.
"I hope you don't plan to say that she's my wife.." My heart started beating fast, hoping I wouldn't hear an affirmative answer from Hector.
"No, of course" I sighed, relieved. Paris did the same. "It's not that easy.. if she pretended to be your wife, they would be offended because they weren't invited to the wedding, or informed about it.. no, we must think about something different.. and the thing that she doesn't speak Greek doesn't make situation easier.."
Now I wondered why, if situation would become complicated, then Priam didn't want people to know I was able to speak their tongue. Probably there were hidden reasons, but I couldn't guess which were they. Andromache and Paris already knew my secret, but they didn't tell a word to Priam or Hector.. why?
"A servant. This is it" I felt shocked when Hector spoke. A servant? Travelling with a group of men?
"A servant?" Paris read my mind, and looked at me. "How do you plan to explain it to them?"
"You know what kind of people are them.. what do they do when they find a girl, a sort of slave.. we must say that we found her and that we kept her. If we do this, nobody will disturb her. Because she belongs to us. Agamemnon will respect our wishes" Hector stood up, looking at me, and then turned around. "Those men should sleep.. this will be along journey" He walked towards the group, leaving me alone with Paris. I observed him. He was staring at the sky, thinking about something. Then with a sigh, looked at me, I held his gaze for a while.
"This is absurd.. "He whispered. I was too shocked to think about anything.. I remembered the role of servant girls in those times, and the idea made me scared. What if another man wanted me? What if they left me alone? My hands were shaking, and Paris noticed it. "Why did you come, if you didn't want? "In that moment, I wondered about his sudden change of attitude towards me. I also wondered if I should go on pretending, or if I could finally speak with him, if he already knew my secret. The rest of people were too far away to hear me. I decided to run the risk.
"I didn't choose it" The sound of my own voice surprised both of us. Paris didn't expect me to speak, and he smiled.
"I'm glad to hear some words form you" And after many hours wishing to talk, I found myself speechless. What was wrong with me? "And now, can you please tell me the whole story, from the beginning?"
"You're asking something impossible" I replied, afraid of what I had done. I had broken a promise to Priam, and now I knew that Paris wouldn't stop until he found out about all my hidden secrets.
"Something impossible? You think you have more rights to share a secret with my father than me? I'm his son, and I'll inheritate this right one day" His dark eyes were shinning with anger. I looked back in the same way.
"But by the moment, those rights belong only to your father" He stared at me, surprised.
"The first time you speak, and you're talking like a.. like a.. "Anger didn't let him talk, and when we heard Hector approaching, we both remained quiet. But I still could feel his anger.
"I think it's about time to get some sleep.. "Hector said, looking at me. "And I'm afraid you'll have to share room with us, Alana.. there's not too much space inside this ship.. "I followed him inside the cabin, and looked back at Paris, who was still sitting there, watching at me.
We went downstairs, and Hector lit a small torch, giving a magical appearance to that small place. The third bed was placed in front of Paris one, in parallel. Hector fixed the blanket and pillow for me, and I smiled. He looked like a small boy and, in reality, he was the strongest man I had ever seen in person.
"Here you have.. I hope you'll sleep well.. I'm afraid we don't have a real bath, but this small place.." He walked towards a wooden door, opening it. A dark cabin with a hole on the ground. Hector looked embarrassed. I supposed it was a kind of toilet, and nodded, smiling. He went to his own bed, and I laid on mine, throwing some water over the torch. Darkness came, and for some minutes, everything was peaceful and quiet. I was surprised to see how fast had Hector fallen asleep.
Finally my eyes got used todarkness, and from the open door, upstairs, I could see Paris' shape under the moonlight. He was coming in silence. I closed my eyes quickly, covering half of my face with the blanket. He was standing in front of me, removing his shirt and stepping into his bed. Our heads were in parallel and I didn't dare to open my eyes. My heart was beating so fast, and I couldn't understand why. Maybe because I knew that Paris disliked me. Now that his father and I had this special friendship.. if Paris only knew how much I wished to talk to both brothers about my situation. How I wished to be comforted and sent back home.. then, I remembered what I had seen on the camera.. if pictures from the camera showed future.. and I didn't appear on them.. then.. I would never come back home..
The simple thought made me cry. Tears were falling from my face. I was condemned to live in a time I didn't belong to. Without any choice. How unfair life was, and how unfair that I had to be alone, hated by Paris and ignored by Hector. Still crying, I opened my eyes in the darkness.. Paris was sleeping. And tears went on falling.
-------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ---- --------------------
Paris suspected that his father had sent her to make something important. She didn't seem to know anything about Sparta and king Menelaus, or about the problems between the two kingdoms. But his father Priam trusted her so much that he sent her with them with no doubt.. but why? That was a mission of peace, nobody would make a war out of it, quite the opposite.. they would just meet the king, have a dinner with him and go back home.. what could happen there, in Sparta, that could change the course of history? Paris didn't know. He saw everything so clear, so plain. It was like going to a party.. why would Priam send Alana to a party?
She was crying , he could hear her from his bed. Soon, he felt sorry about everything.. he felt guilty for being rude with her. He hadn't think of that until then, the weight of the responsibility she was carrying, the strong promises she had made and that she had to keep.. he wondered, for the first time since they met, how was she feeling.. he felt the need to get up and go to talk to her, ask her what was wrong.. but he couldn't. He opened his eyes fast enough to see that she was closing hers. She had been observing him. With a sigh, he turned around and laid back, thinking of Greece. Of the meeting with Menelaus.. just a mission of peace. What could go wrong? Just two days in Sparta, only two days.. and then they would return to Troy with the mission done. If he only could know..