Disclaimer: Only own Alana.
Chapter seven
When I opened my eyes I had a strange feeling, at first I didn't know where I was. Then, I saw the sunlight entering through the open door, and I sighed. The movements of the ship over the sea, the male voices.. it hadn't been a dream, I was on my way to Greece.
Sitting down on my bed, I looked around. I was alone there. Wondering what time was it, went upstairs. I had to close my eyes under the sun, until they got used to the light. There, on my right, was standing Hector, who greeted me with a smile.
"Good morning, I hope you slept well.. we're approaching the Greek coast, wind was favourable last night, when we woke up this morning Ephestos told me that we had advanced a lot" I looked at the boy called Ephestos, who was smiling widely. Hector took my arm and led me to the edge of the prow. "See? There, in the distance.. there's a brown sort of stain.. this is Greece" Our gazes met, and he nodded. "I forgot again, you can't speak my tongue" I couldn't help smiling, and we stared at each other for a while. Then, as if he woke up from sleep, looked back, now serious. Paris turned around just in that moment, his dark eyes shone when he smiled.
"It seems you slept well.. "He said, as he came by us.
"She can't understand us.. why do we keep on going talking to her?" Hector sighed, and Paris shrugged.
"Because maybe she will learn a bit, don't you think?" He gave me an intelligent look. "And she will feel better if we talk to her.. after all, she's in foreign lands with strange people.. "Hector looked into the sea, leaning against the wooden prow, thinking.
"I'm worried, Paris.. how will we take care of her there? She can't be with us during dinner, or during the party.. and I don't trust those men.. if something happened to her, which is probable, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life.." He made a pause, as Paris frowned. "I don't know her, but I feel responsible of her destiny" Hector sighed, covering his face with his hands. I felt my hands trembling again. Was he saying that something bad would happen to me? I imagined all sort of horrible things, and felt sick.
"Hector, there's nothing we can do, we must trust that things will go well.. "Paris commented, calmly. But Hector got angry.
"You speak as if you didn't care for her.. and I know you don't, Paris.. she's just one more girl in your life, and you already have plenty of them.."
"What do you mean?" There was danger in his tone of voice, when both brothers looked at each other.
"I'm just saying that Greece will be dangerous for her if we introduce her as our servant.. and you don't seem to care"
"I'm also worried, Hector, but the truth is that now we're here and there's no return.. "Paris looked at me and saw my terrified expression. "We'll think of something.." He murmured, but Hector ignored him.
"I'm already trying to think. "He left with fast steps, and I sat on the wooden ground, still shaking. Greece.. a wonderful place, but for me it sounded like a hell. I was surprised when Paris kneeled beside me.
"I know about your fears.. but if my father thought that you would be in danger, he would have never sent you there. Trust him as I do" I looked at his brown eyes.
"If you trusted him, you would have acted different with me since the beginning. But until yesterday, I was just a problem for you.. why are you kind with me all from the sudden?" Finally I had made the question I was wishing to make, and he didn't seem to know the answer.
"Well.. I suppose I kept the distance because we're living troubled times.. you were a stranger, with a secret shared with my father.. you would have done the same if you were me.."
"Don't judge me so fast, Paris" I replied, sharply. He blinked, surprised.
"You're a strange person, Alana.. I admit that it's hard for me to find good qualities on you.. I barely can bear you.." His voice sounded arrogant, and he stood up. "I don't know why I'm talking to you.. I should leave you alone in our own world.. where you don't allow anybody to enter.. except my father"
"You're not being fair with me and you know it" I also stood up, angry. "I assure you that if I knew the reasons why I'm here, I would solve situation as fast as possible and go back home. And never see you again"
"It would be wonderful if you did so, Alana.. this is why I'm helping you. I want you to as soon as possible" He turned around, walking away from me and joining his brother. In the distance, Greece was becoming bigger form time to time. We were near already. Near from my mission, the mysterious mission.
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"Come on, we're leaving the ship!!" Hector shouted, waking me up. I had fallen asleep again, and I looked around, scared. The ship was stopped. I stood up and checked, we were on a beach, and all our men were jumping to the sand. Paris put the stair, and looked at me, without saying a word. Then, jumped too. I felt a hand on my arm, and turned to meet Hector.
"We've arrive in Greece, Alana.." He smiled kindly, and then walked with me to the stairs. The sand was soft and warm, and the blue water covered my legs until my knees. We walked some metres while the soldiers were mooring lines, throwing the anchor. Hector kept his hand on my arm, and that made me a bit scared. He sensed a kind of danger and wanted to protect me.
We all stopped near from a stoned path, where we saw a crowd approaching. Paris tensed, and my heart was beating so fast that I felt it inside my throat. Our soldiers stood in a straight line. Hector, Paris and I stayed in front of them, waiting. Soon, I was able to distinguish them.
On the left, a horrible man was sitting on a kind of carriage, his half white beard was greasy, and his skin red because of sun. Next to him there was a woman, who called my attention, because she was completely blonde. Her face was perfect, and her blue eyes checked us with arrogance. I noticed she specially checked Paris, who was gaping at her. On her right, another man, as horrible as the first one.
"Welcome to Greece, prince Hector.." The first one said, leaving his seat and standing in front of us. "Prince Paris.." Then, his eyes stopped on me, and frowned. "And this beautiful girl? "
"She's our personal servant. Don't try to talk to her, she comes from a distant land, she doesn't speak our language, Menelaus" I looked at Hector, and he gave me a fast look too.
"Servant? You brought a servant? But you'll only stay here two days!" He laughed. "She must be really good, or else you would have come alone.. what does your pretty wife say about this?" Now also Paris was watching at us, but soon his eyes left again, staring at the pretty queen.
"She's special and Andromache accepts her" Hector replied, calmly. I still noticed his hand on my arm.
"Your wife is a wonderful woman indeed.." Now the other man and the queen had come to our place. "Agamemnon, my brother.." Menelaus spoke, looking at him. "Those are our guests. And their servant.." He said the last words with a suspicious voice. "Helen, come here.." The woman stayed next to me, she was as tall as I was, and our eyes met. She smiled, but coldly. Her blue eyes were like ice, there was something on her I didn't like. But Paris took her hand in a greeting gesture, and she blushed deeply.
While we all walked to the palace, my head started to work.. I couldn't stop thinking, remembering details from history books.. Paris and Helen.. something had happened to them.. yes, I was starting to remember. A kind of peace came to my heart for the first time since I had arrived. I was finding my way. I smiled, ignoring that maybe someone could have been observing me. I was walking behind the main group, alone. And I was able to form the thoughts inside my mind.
Paris had stolen Helen from Menelaus.. and then the Greeks attacked Troy as a revenge.. yes, that was the story.. but that was strange.. I wondered how could that happen.. Hector was a reasonable man, he would have never allowed Paris to steal her.. well.. maybe Hector didn't know he had done it.. maybe Paris took her in secret.. when I looked at the couple, as we entered the huge palace, I realised that history was going on. Paris was walking next to her, and she was completely delighted with his company, they both looking at each other in astonishment. And something I didn't expect happened to me. I felt.. strange.. as if I had lost something.
Hector looked back when we stopped in front of the palace's main door. Agamemnon and Menelaus waited for him, looking at me.
"The servant can stay with our servants.." I didn't like the look in Menelaus' eyes.
"She will stay close to us" Hector replied firmly. "In my room or in Paris' room"
"Hector, Hector.." Agamemnon said, touching his shoulder. "You can't be serious about this.. she's a servant!" He laughed, but Hector held his serious gaze.
"I must repeat that she will stay with us, Agamemnon"
"If I didn't trust you, Trojan.." This last word , said in an insulting way, caused a bad effect on Hector. "I would say you hide something about this girl" Agamemnon checked me.
"She's special for me. She's Andromache's best friend. She would never forgive me if something bad happened to her" Hector looked so convinced and strong, that I felt safer. But Menelaus saw something suspicious in the whole situation, because he walked some steps towards us.
"Your wife's best friend? This is odd.. Hector, stop saying nonsense and let her go to the servants' rooms" I looked scared at Hector, who looked back at me frowning, like wondering how come I understood Menelaus' words. I blushed, and Hector looked even more surprised.
"No" Hector argued back.
"Please, please.." A sweet and musical voice sounded behind us. Helen had come, and all men stared at her, amazed by her beauty. "Don't discuss about this now.. she can stay in my servant's room.. she won't mind, they can share space for two nights.." Then, Helen looked at Hector. "You'll be more comfortable alone.. also Paris" She said this looking at him, who was smiling. That woman didn't want me to be near from him. Something in her cold blue eyes told me that she also disliked me.
"Well, it's fine with me.. "Hector replied, and followed the men inside. I looked at Paris, but he even didn't notice I was standing there. I needed his support, a kind word from him.. but nothing came. I was led to the room next to Helen's, where I found food and a bath, and a small bed I would share with another girl. They had left me alone.
Chapter seven
When I opened my eyes I had a strange feeling, at first I didn't know where I was. Then, I saw the sunlight entering through the open door, and I sighed. The movements of the ship over the sea, the male voices.. it hadn't been a dream, I was on my way to Greece.
Sitting down on my bed, I looked around. I was alone there. Wondering what time was it, went upstairs. I had to close my eyes under the sun, until they got used to the light. There, on my right, was standing Hector, who greeted me with a smile.
"Good morning, I hope you slept well.. we're approaching the Greek coast, wind was favourable last night, when we woke up this morning Ephestos told me that we had advanced a lot" I looked at the boy called Ephestos, who was smiling widely. Hector took my arm and led me to the edge of the prow. "See? There, in the distance.. there's a brown sort of stain.. this is Greece" Our gazes met, and he nodded. "I forgot again, you can't speak my tongue" I couldn't help smiling, and we stared at each other for a while. Then, as if he woke up from sleep, looked back, now serious. Paris turned around just in that moment, his dark eyes shone when he smiled.
"It seems you slept well.. "He said, as he came by us.
"She can't understand us.. why do we keep on going talking to her?" Hector sighed, and Paris shrugged.
"Because maybe she will learn a bit, don't you think?" He gave me an intelligent look. "And she will feel better if we talk to her.. after all, she's in foreign lands with strange people.. "Hector looked into the sea, leaning against the wooden prow, thinking.
"I'm worried, Paris.. how will we take care of her there? She can't be with us during dinner, or during the party.. and I don't trust those men.. if something happened to her, which is probable, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life.." He made a pause, as Paris frowned. "I don't know her, but I feel responsible of her destiny" Hector sighed, covering his face with his hands. I felt my hands trembling again. Was he saying that something bad would happen to me? I imagined all sort of horrible things, and felt sick.
"Hector, there's nothing we can do, we must trust that things will go well.. "Paris commented, calmly. But Hector got angry.
"You speak as if you didn't care for her.. and I know you don't, Paris.. she's just one more girl in your life, and you already have plenty of them.."
"What do you mean?" There was danger in his tone of voice, when both brothers looked at each other.
"I'm just saying that Greece will be dangerous for her if we introduce her as our servant.. and you don't seem to care"
"I'm also worried, Hector, but the truth is that now we're here and there's no return.. "Paris looked at me and saw my terrified expression. "We'll think of something.." He murmured, but Hector ignored him.
"I'm already trying to think. "He left with fast steps, and I sat on the wooden ground, still shaking. Greece.. a wonderful place, but for me it sounded like a hell. I was surprised when Paris kneeled beside me.
"I know about your fears.. but if my father thought that you would be in danger, he would have never sent you there. Trust him as I do" I looked at his brown eyes.
"If you trusted him, you would have acted different with me since the beginning. But until yesterday, I was just a problem for you.. why are you kind with me all from the sudden?" Finally I had made the question I was wishing to make, and he didn't seem to know the answer.
"Well.. I suppose I kept the distance because we're living troubled times.. you were a stranger, with a secret shared with my father.. you would have done the same if you were me.."
"Don't judge me so fast, Paris" I replied, sharply. He blinked, surprised.
"You're a strange person, Alana.. I admit that it's hard for me to find good qualities on you.. I barely can bear you.." His voice sounded arrogant, and he stood up. "I don't know why I'm talking to you.. I should leave you alone in our own world.. where you don't allow anybody to enter.. except my father"
"You're not being fair with me and you know it" I also stood up, angry. "I assure you that if I knew the reasons why I'm here, I would solve situation as fast as possible and go back home. And never see you again"
"It would be wonderful if you did so, Alana.. this is why I'm helping you. I want you to as soon as possible" He turned around, walking away from me and joining his brother. In the distance, Greece was becoming bigger form time to time. We were near already. Near from my mission, the mysterious mission.
------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------- ----- -----------------------
"Come on, we're leaving the ship!!" Hector shouted, waking me up. I had fallen asleep again, and I looked around, scared. The ship was stopped. I stood up and checked, we were on a beach, and all our men were jumping to the sand. Paris put the stair, and looked at me, without saying a word. Then, jumped too. I felt a hand on my arm, and turned to meet Hector.
"We've arrive in Greece, Alana.." He smiled kindly, and then walked with me to the stairs. The sand was soft and warm, and the blue water covered my legs until my knees. We walked some metres while the soldiers were mooring lines, throwing the anchor. Hector kept his hand on my arm, and that made me a bit scared. He sensed a kind of danger and wanted to protect me.
We all stopped near from a stoned path, where we saw a crowd approaching. Paris tensed, and my heart was beating so fast that I felt it inside my throat. Our soldiers stood in a straight line. Hector, Paris and I stayed in front of them, waiting. Soon, I was able to distinguish them.
On the left, a horrible man was sitting on a kind of carriage, his half white beard was greasy, and his skin red because of sun. Next to him there was a woman, who called my attention, because she was completely blonde. Her face was perfect, and her blue eyes checked us with arrogance. I noticed she specially checked Paris, who was gaping at her. On her right, another man, as horrible as the first one.
"Welcome to Greece, prince Hector.." The first one said, leaving his seat and standing in front of us. "Prince Paris.." Then, his eyes stopped on me, and frowned. "And this beautiful girl? "
"She's our personal servant. Don't try to talk to her, she comes from a distant land, she doesn't speak our language, Menelaus" I looked at Hector, and he gave me a fast look too.
"Servant? You brought a servant? But you'll only stay here two days!" He laughed. "She must be really good, or else you would have come alone.. what does your pretty wife say about this?" Now also Paris was watching at us, but soon his eyes left again, staring at the pretty queen.
"She's special and Andromache accepts her" Hector replied, calmly. I still noticed his hand on my arm.
"Your wife is a wonderful woman indeed.." Now the other man and the queen had come to our place. "Agamemnon, my brother.." Menelaus spoke, looking at him. "Those are our guests. And their servant.." He said the last words with a suspicious voice. "Helen, come here.." The woman stayed next to me, she was as tall as I was, and our eyes met. She smiled, but coldly. Her blue eyes were like ice, there was something on her I didn't like. But Paris took her hand in a greeting gesture, and she blushed deeply.
While we all walked to the palace, my head started to work.. I couldn't stop thinking, remembering details from history books.. Paris and Helen.. something had happened to them.. yes, I was starting to remember. A kind of peace came to my heart for the first time since I had arrived. I was finding my way. I smiled, ignoring that maybe someone could have been observing me. I was walking behind the main group, alone. And I was able to form the thoughts inside my mind.
Paris had stolen Helen from Menelaus.. and then the Greeks attacked Troy as a revenge.. yes, that was the story.. but that was strange.. I wondered how could that happen.. Hector was a reasonable man, he would have never allowed Paris to steal her.. well.. maybe Hector didn't know he had done it.. maybe Paris took her in secret.. when I looked at the couple, as we entered the huge palace, I realised that history was going on. Paris was walking next to her, and she was completely delighted with his company, they both looking at each other in astonishment. And something I didn't expect happened to me. I felt.. strange.. as if I had lost something.
Hector looked back when we stopped in front of the palace's main door. Agamemnon and Menelaus waited for him, looking at me.
"The servant can stay with our servants.." I didn't like the look in Menelaus' eyes.
"She will stay close to us" Hector replied firmly. "In my room or in Paris' room"
"Hector, Hector.." Agamemnon said, touching his shoulder. "You can't be serious about this.. she's a servant!" He laughed, but Hector held his serious gaze.
"I must repeat that she will stay with us, Agamemnon"
"If I didn't trust you, Trojan.." This last word , said in an insulting way, caused a bad effect on Hector. "I would say you hide something about this girl" Agamemnon checked me.
"She's special for me. She's Andromache's best friend. She would never forgive me if something bad happened to her" Hector looked so convinced and strong, that I felt safer. But Menelaus saw something suspicious in the whole situation, because he walked some steps towards us.
"Your wife's best friend? This is odd.. Hector, stop saying nonsense and let her go to the servants' rooms" I looked scared at Hector, who looked back at me frowning, like wondering how come I understood Menelaus' words. I blushed, and Hector looked even more surprised.
"No" Hector argued back.
"Please, please.." A sweet and musical voice sounded behind us. Helen had come, and all men stared at her, amazed by her beauty. "Don't discuss about this now.. she can stay in my servant's room.. she won't mind, they can share space for two nights.." Then, Helen looked at Hector. "You'll be more comfortable alone.. also Paris" She said this looking at him, who was smiling. That woman didn't want me to be near from him. Something in her cold blue eyes told me that she also disliked me.
"Well, it's fine with me.. "Hector replied, and followed the men inside. I looked at Paris, but he even didn't notice I was standing there. I needed his support, a kind word from him.. but nothing came. I was led to the room next to Helen's, where I found food and a bath, and a small bed I would share with another girl. They had left me alone.