Disclaimer: only own Alana

A/N: I'm trying to write emails to some of you but they're sent back, saying that your addresses don't exist.. strange.. anyway,thanks for oyur kind reviews!

Chapter twelve

The high temperatures in Troy were unbearable. Nights were so hot, no breeze came inside my bedroom and I couldn't fall asleep. But it was also because of the situation, how things looked like. It kept my mind busy. But after one week since our arrival, nothing had changed. I hadn't seen Priam, neither Paris. About Hector, he spent with Andromache most of day, and they just greeted me from the distance. My lunches and dinners were lonely, and they assigned me some work to keep me busy. I had to take care of Hector's son. Which was a complicated duty for me, considering that I didn't get along with babies too well. But soon he caught my heart, his small face always showed a smile to me.

In those seven days I had had enough time to think about everything. I walked on the beach, I met servants and built a friendship with them, and I learned more about those people. To my surprise, I didn't miss anything from 21rst century, although sometimes the image of my friends showed up in my head, and made me wonder how were things there. I guessed that my family would be worried about my evasion, if it could be called like that. I remembered my mother, my father.. maybe the police was looking for me, crossing the borders of Croatia and the rest of countries around it. But the truth was that I couldn't worry about that more than five minutes, because soon more things caught my attention.

One afternoon, when I was walking on the beach with the baby, giving our usual small trip, I saw Hector sitting on a rock, near from the cliff. I slowed up, and he recognised me from the distance. Smiling, he stood up and approached us. I didn't know why, but I felt a bit uncomfortable at his sight.. I couldn't explain that, but I even blushed.

"Hello, Alana.. it's been a long time since we don't talk.." He commented, taking his son in his arms and smiling. "And how is my son treating you? Are you kind with Alana? "He spoke to the small baby.

"We all were busy lately.." He looked at me, with narrowed eyes.

"Busy? You've been avoiding me intentionally.. Andromache told me about your conversation with her" Now it was my turn to look at him in surprise.

"Conversation? Which one?" I replied, and Hector shrugged.

"She said that the day we arrived you talked to her about your emotionally state.. and that you needed time to be alone so that you didn't want anybody to talk to you.. and I respected it.." I opened my eyes in disbelief. So Andromache wasn't the sweet woman I had imagined. She really disliked me.

"I'm sorry to say this, Hector, but I've never said this to her.." He frowned, and then started a slow walk.

"Are you saying that my wife invented it?" I noticed the anger on his voice. I walked with him, by the sea.

"No, no.. I'm just saying that I would have never taken that decision.. and if I'll ever take it, the first people who will know it will be Priam and you.." He kept silence for a while, and then looked at me again, thinking.

"Well.. I guess it was a misunderstanding.. "His voice sounded low, as if he was lost in his thoughts. "Andromache spent too many time alone since we married.. maybe she misinterpreted your words.." I didn't want to increase his anger, but I had the need to defend myself.

"It's impossible that she misinterpreted anything because we even didn't keep a conversation.. the last time we talked was the day we left, when she asked me to stay away from you.."

"Alana, my wife would never lie to me.." He stopped, and observed me with his dark eyes. "And at the same time, you confessed all the truth to me, about your life, your origins.. so somehow I know you're not lying"

"I'm glad.." I replied. The sun was red in the horizon, night was coming.

"We must leave" He said, after being in silence some minutes. Again, I followed him through the beach, towards the palace. When we were almost there, he stopped one more time. "I think it's about time to talk to my father.. you must do it, and make things clear" He saw the doubt in my face, because he smiled soon. "Don't worry, I'll go with you to confirm all your versions.. he will believe you" He put his free hand on my shoulder, and that gesture comforted me. But it also made me realise about something. I had left a piece of my dress in the beach.

"I have to go back to the beach, see you later" I said, leaving. I ran fast, and soon I felt the sand under my feet. A fresh breeze was coming from the sea, and I stood there for a while, checking all the zone around me. The light handkerchief could be seen next to the rock. I walked there, and when I picked it up, I saw a familiar shape near from me.

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Paris had been alone for the whole week, lost in his thoughts and thinking about all possible solutions. The only idea in his mind was to get Helen back. He needed her, this was sure.. but as days went by, he realised that it was more a matter of proud than a matter of love. He loved Helen indeed, but his blood was a noble blood, and he had been betrayed. If he went again to Greece, he would recuperate his honour and the woman he loved. He hated to admit that the week he had been separated from Helen had opened his eyes. The distance, the lack of memories.. everything had made him forget about her face a bit. His passion had lowered, wondering if everything had been real or just a dream.

He had the same need every day. He hated her with all his forces, but when Alana went to the beach with the baby, he had always followed her. He couldn't tell why, maybe it was just a matter of trust. That girl had spoiled his life, and he had to be on guard with her. So the fact of observing her made him feel better. She was controlled and he wouldn't allow her to destroy anything else. Priam had given him some free days, to settle down and put order in his mind. Paris had thanked him for that, but the result was the opposite he had expected.

On the seventh day, he saw her leaving the palace. The same time, the same routine. From his room he had a whole view of the yard and the exit. And also a view of the sea. Alana was holding his nephew with the same kindness as every day, speaking to him in soft voice. As she left through the door, he left his bedroom and started his walk. It was the sunset, and temperatures were more bearable. He advanced, slowly, in front of the soldiers, pretending to be just going for a walk. Once outside, he took the hidden path, parallel to hers. She was smiling, as well as the baby. His nephew adored her and he couldn't understand why. His nephew had his blood, and Hector's blood. But of course, Hector was another exception. This man had developed a kind of feelings towards the girl, Paris was sure about that. But what kind of feelings, he couldn't tell.

He remembered the first day of the week, when she was assigned the duty of taking care of the baby. He had heard everything from the place where he was standing inside the palace. She didn't look too excited, but accepted the work. It was then when Paris felt shocked with his reaction.. when he returned from his spying game, he spent the whole night wondering why he had done that. But to his own surprise, in the following afternoon he did the same. And the next day.. and the next one. He observed her, analysed her.. and analysed his feelings. Anger, remorse.. and something he couldn't classify, but made him terribly angry with himself. He couldn't believe he felt a kind of sympathy towards her. After all what she had done to him.

Alana suddenly slowed down, and Paris frowned, coming back to reality and leaving his thoughts. He saw Hector in the distance, walking towards her. He smiled and took his son in his arms, starting a walk with the girl. Paris shook his head. He knew his brother well, and in that very moment, Hector was showing an unknown face. Andromache wouldn't like that situation, and Paris wondered if his brother was really aware of the treatment he used to give to Alana. Although in the past days she had been avoiding everybody.

The couple disappeared , walking towards the castle. Paris sat on a rock, looking at the sea, at the small waves. He needed some lonely moments. Seven days watching her, and he was feeling a change inside him. Whatever was that, he promised himself he would take a revenge anyway.. because once he had wanted Helen to come with him, and this would happen sooner or later. Nobody could stop that. His dark eyes looked back, the sun was disappearing in the horizon and its red lights gave a magical look to the beach.

He didn't know how many minutes had passed, not too many, but he decided to go back to the castle for dinner. Standing up, he walked on the rocks, slowly, avoiding the small lagoons that the sea water had formed. The sand was still warm, and the sound of the waves was relaxing. Paris remembered the Greek sand, the beach.. and Helen. He wanted to feel the same strong sensation he had felt with her.. but again, he couldn't. And he decided to take the path next to the rocks, where Alana had walked. Looking up, he started. In front of him, a known shape could be seen.

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When I saw him I felt as if I was going to faint. Why, why in that moment? And what was he doing there? Paris was there indeed, standing in front of me, looking at me with the same surprise in his eyes. None of us reacted, we just stared at each other. And my rational side helped me for the first time in many days.

"What are you doing here?" I realised that my voice was just a whisper, and my legs were shaking. He took a deep breath.

"And what about you?" He replied. Then , with an impatient movement of his hand, looked back at the sea. "Leave me alone" His answer didn't surprise me. He was the same rude person as always, and I would never allow him to spoil my peaceful life there. Without a reply, I turned around and started to walk, slowly.

I had only advanced a couple of metres when I felt the need to look back at him. When I did it, I felt my heart beating so fast that it hurt. Paris was looking at me. But not with anger or contempt.. when I saw his eyes, I thought I was imagining it.. he was staring at me with a kind expression, almost sweet.. I didn't realise I had stopped, but he did. Soon, avoiding my gaze, walked fast, passing by me, ignoring me. He touched my arm by accident and I felt something in that moment I couldn't describe. And for a second, his eyes looked at me, only few centimetres separating us. Then, he left, running.

When I arrived in the palace, Andromache was standing in the hall, with her son in her arms. She looked at me in shock, and then turned around and came in the living room. It was already crowded, and like in the past days, I took the decision of having dinner in my own room. When the door opened, and Andromache crossed it, I saw Priam and Paris sitting on the table. Then, the door closed.

The halls were empty, and I was glad of that. I didn't feel like meeting anybody. I needed to think about everything.. about what Andromache had done, about Paris reaction.. then I remembered that Hector would go with me to talk to Priam.. I wondered when would that meeting take place. And as if it was a kind of magic, I got an immediate reply to my thoughts, because Hector was standing next to my room's door. It was already dark, but I could distinguish him perfectly.

"You're late, Alana.. I've been waiting for you" He said, with a kind smile. "We have to talk" I felt my heart beating fast.

"About what?" I asked, scared.

"Well, one of the things is about your meeting with my father. It will take place tomorrow in the morning, after breakfast. "I waited, but he didn't go on talking.

"And you couldn't tell me this tomorrow in the morning? Andromache was in the hall, sure she was waiting for you.. and she didn't look too happy" I replied, opening the door of my room.

"I talked to her some moments ago.. she's angry with me" He said, standing in front of me. Then, he spoke with lower tone of voice. "Because I believe you and not her" His dark eyes showed sadness. Obviously his wife had disappointed him. But I didn't know what to reply, and the silence was uncomfortable.

"If you don't mind.. I would like to take a bath and go to bed.. I'm a bit tired.." But Hector didn't move. And I still didn't know what to do. I felt his gaze and I couldn't avoid it.

"Hector?" A female voice made him start. Andromache was there, looking at us from the other side of the corridor. He looked at her, and then at me. But I closed my door, taking a deep breath. I really needed to think. I heard them leaving, and then silence.