Disclaimer: I only own Alana.
A/N: During 2 months I'll be away but I'll go on writting this story.I don't have a laptop, but I promise in september I'll finish it. I'll bring a notebook with me and write in the old style :) But I'll still update two more chapters:) Thanks for the reviews!
Chapter eighteen
I wasn't ready for that.. the sight of the burning palace.. we stopped in front of the golden door, shocked. As far as I knew, the war had taken place during many years.. but in a matter of minutes, the city was being destroyed. Hector tried to open the gate but it was locked. He beat it, angry.
"Our father is inside!" He shouted, and Paris ran back, rounding the garden.
"Lets go through the beach!" He shouted, and I shook my head.
"You said the tide is high! We would have to wait until tomorrow!" It was stupid, I was a good swimmer, but in the past years I had developed a strange kind of fear , I reacted panicking when dark water was near from me. Not the green or blue sea, but the black and deep water form rivers and nights like that one, without moon. I felt those fears again when I saw the answer in Hector's eyes.
"We'll swim" He said, and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I couldn't move, I just stayed there. All from the sudden I feared more the water than the war. "Alana, what are you doing? Follow us!" Shouted Hector, but I looked at them with begging eyes. Paris stopped, as well as his brother.
"I can't.." I murmured, and they both frowned.
"What?" Asked Paris, and Hector walked back to me.
"I just can't swim in dark waters.." I was about to cry, so scared I was. When I saw anger in those men, I felt so ashamed. But I couldn't do anything.
"What kind of stupid fear is this you have?" Asked Hector. "A war is taking place, come with us!" It was the first time since I had met him that he spoke to me like that. I understood it, his father was in danger.. but anybody who had a phobia would understand me.. you want to do it, but your body doesn't react. It's impossible to move, you just try to breath and your legs are paralysed, you feel the nausea in your stomach. It was true, my phobia was stupid.. but it was there, for some hidden reason I couldn't understand. And I preferred to wait for anything and not swim.
"I said I can't.. you both can leave, I'll wait here" I said, now with tears in my eyes. Hector took my hand and pushed me, and I followed him weakly. "Please, Hector, you don't understand me" We crossed the gardens and arrived in the beach.
"Nothing bad will happen to you, we'll help you. But please, stop talking like a small child" Hector smiled kindly, and came inside the water, giving me his hand. "Come on" Paris was already inside, swimming by the rocks. Waves weren't too strong, but they were dangerous anyway. And the water.. so dark that it looked like a bottomless hole. I gave one step.. and another one.. I was already breathless because of panic. Hector began to swim, and I started to repeat to myself that I had always been a good swimmer. It was only the water of the sea, dark because of the night. I tried to think about the green and blue water where I had swum few days before.
The rocks were near, and I swam away from them, afraid of a sudden wave that would beat against us. We had to round the western part of the palace, and it wasn't too long.. but minutes passed and I felt my arms tired. Hector was already far away, desperation made him hurry, thinking of his father. I couldn't see Paris, I couldn't see anything. I just swam, murmuring prays although I wasn't a religious person. But the way seemed not to have an end. I looked up, and realised that I was still in the middle of the way. I wouldn't be able to arrive, I was already too tired. Now I could see Hector arriving in the beach, but Paris was still missing. They were leaving me alone.. alone inside the sea.
A bigger wave came and threw water over my head, taking me by surprise. My heart started to beat so fast that it was hard to breath. I was going to faint, in the sea.. I would die. What an irony.. I had escaped from Achilles and a simple wave would kill me. All from the sudden, I felt an arm holding me. Looking back, I saw Paris. He was smiling, and I thought I was dreaming.
"Paris! You were swimming there.. you.." I wasn't able to speak, so tired I was. He helped me to swim.
"Lay on your back, I'll carry you.. I've been swimming behind you, I knew you would need help" He took me under my arms, my head resting on his shoulder. Our eyes met for some seconds. "I didn't know you had this fear.. you were a good swimmer the other day.."
"I'm a box full of surprises.." I said, trying to recuperate. He laughed, or was it my imagination?
"We're near.. can you swim now?" I floated, trying to touch the bottom with my feet. He looked at me, waiting. His eyes were so dark in the night.. but why was I thinking about that?
"I can.. don't make Hector angry, he's nervous.." Paris looked at the beach, it was empty.
"He already left. We'll join him now, come one" We left the water, hurrying.
"Paris?" He stopped and looked back at me. "Thank you" With a smile, he turned around and went on running. I hardly was able to follow him, wondering which would be my end in that story. I always could stay there and wait. I couldn't fight, I wasn't able to use a sword, or a knife.. or a bow.. nothing, I was totally useless for them. I would be just an extra weight they would have to hold while they fought. This is why, when I saw the burning Trojan wall, I stopped. The crowd of fighting soldiers, the fire.. I felt so scared. Hector had just killed a man, and Paris was fighting against another one. In the distance, he looked at me.
"Stay away from us!" He shouted, and he didn't have to repeat that. I hided behind a huge stone, by a tree, sitting on the grass leaning against the trunk. If someone discovered me, he would kill me. Until that very moment, I hadn't been aware of what a real war meant. I had changed history, I had made big changes, hurrying all the years and making them last one night. How could such a big change affect history? What had I done? I wished I had never said "yes" to Priam, that day in Krk.
The sound of steps near from me made me freeze. Someone was coming. I wrapped my arms around myself, with the hope that I would be more hidden. Closing my eyes, I waited. The fire projected shadows everywhere. And the shadow of a tall man was standing in front of my sight.
"Alana" I looked up at him, and saw Priam standing there. He walked towards me and sat, breathing strongly. "Alana, please , listen to me. My sons had just seen me leaving, they're' fighting and they looked shocked.. I didn't have time to explain them, but you'll do it for me" His blue eyes were sad, and a strange look appeared on his eyes. He didn't let me speak, and I didn't want to. I knew he was about to say something really important to me. "Alana.. I'm leaving for good. I have my reasons... as you will have yours to stay"
"What?" I felt so confused, but he just smiled.
"I know that in the beginning you will hate me for this.. but I'm sure that with time you will understand" He took my hand, kindly. "Alana.. you're living in a time that is not yours.. there's an empty space in 21rst century. And there can't be it. At the same time, this time is joining two spaces.. to make it simple.. the laws of the universe say that there can't be an empty space in one century and an extra space in another one. "
"What are you trying to say?" I asked, scared. He looked up at me, almost crying.
"I'm doing this for you.. this will be our little secret. Our exchange"
"Exchange?" I felt my hands shaking. I knew what was he talking about. He nodded.
"Yes, Alana. I'm going to 21rst century, and I'll never come back. I'll take your space there. I'll live like an old man, my last years there. "
"I won't allow this. You can't steal it from me! I want to go back now!" I shouted, but he shook his head.
"You can't, Alana. You don't know how"
"Yes, I do. You told me"
"This is different. This won't be a simple journey through time. This will be an exchange.. if someone from this century travels there, and you're here.. he will take your place there and you won't be able to open the time gate."
"But you still didn't leave, I still have time. You can't leave Troy!" I was trying to think as fast as possible, about a way to escape. But I knew that Priam had everything planned.
"I knew you would hate me for this.. I know you can't understand by the moment.. but believe me.. things have to be like this. Take my space in Troy, the space for your soul. You'll be happier here than in your time"
"How can you know it? You have a special power?" Anger made me talk with irony. It was a typical reaction on me.
"I know what is better for you.. and for my son" His blue eyes looked at the fighting battle. "You won't ever return to 21rst century, Alana. And I won't ever come back. This is a fair exchange"
"It's not!! What the hell are you talking about? How can this be better for me? I'm alone here!" Priam sighed, patiently.
"Would you be happy, really happy, if right now you returned to Earth.. without the chance of saying goodbye to any of my sons? Just disappear?" He waited for my reply.
"Maybe I wouldn't be happy, but.."
"See?" He interrupted. "Your soul tells you that you belong here" He stood up.
"Wait!" I stood up as well. "Which son?" He frowned.
"What?"
"You said it will be better for your son.. but you have two sons" I said.
"I know. "He shrugged and smiled. Taking my and, he kissed it. "Don't hate me, Alana"
"What about all my relatives? My friends?" I asked, breathless. He started to walk, but turned around once more.
"You changed past, Alana.. now I'll belong to 21rst century.. you don't exist in the future. Everything will be changed" I stood there, shocked. All my world fell apart. I was alone, in the middle of a war. With a married man and his brother, crazily in love with a blonde Spartan queen. I wanted to shout. But what I did was start to cry. I fell on the ground and cried.
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I didn't know how many time I had been laying there. After Priam left, I didn't care about anything, if death had to come, I was ready to accept it. I felt so lost that I laid on the ground, closed my eyes and wished to disappear. But magic didn't exist, and when I opened my eyes again, the sun was rising and I was still there. No noises, only silence and the ashes moved by the wind. The smell of burning was stronger, but fire wasn't there.
I kneeled, looking over the stone. The yard was empty, dead crops laying on the ground, many of them. Worried, I stood up and walked there. I wished I wouldn't find Hector or Paris there. I wished I didn't have to explain them that their father had left. But it seemed that all the weight of the situation was on me. I walked, avoiding the bodies, and holding my breath whenever I saw a Trojan armour. But I reached the big door of the wall, and there wasn't any sign of the two brothers.
I came inside the city, some Trojan citizens and soldiers were taking the corps, another ones were healing their wounds. A woman came to the place where I was standing, and she smiled kindly.
"You're the foreign girl?" Asked, putting her hand on my arm. Her green eyes showed a worried look.
"I'm not a foreign any more" I replied, taking the jar of water she was offering me. After drinking, I looked at her, getting ready to ask and get the answer I most feared. "Are they.. alive?" The woman frowned, confused. "Hector and Paris.." I explained. She opened her mouth, observing me.
"Prince Hector was injured the last time I saw him.." she began, with quiet voice, and I felt my heart beating so fast. "But I didn't see Prince Paris" She took the jar and left. She hadn't seen Paris. What did that mean? I went on walking, to the palace. I had to find them. I needed to see them. Once I reached the stairs, I felt dizzy. Maybe because I hadn't eaten in a whole day, maybe because of all the experience I had lived. But I had to sit on the stairs. When the world stopped spinning around me, I covered my face with my hands. What was I going to do then? I tried not to cry, taking a deep breath. The woman who had spoken to me walked near, checking people. I closed my eyes, and felt a hand on my shoulder. I thought it was the same woman, offering more water.
"No, thank you, I don't need anything else.. just stay here" I told her, but I realised I was talking to someone completely different. When I opened my eyes, I saw Paris standing there.
"What are you talking about?" He smiled. I stood up, fast.
"Paris!" We stared at each other, like it happened whenever he showed up all from the sudden. His eyes looked sad, although he was smiling. "How is Hector?" I asked, and he looked down.
"He's injured, but he will recuperate. Andromache is with him" I opened my mouth in surprise.
"Andromache?" My voice sounded shaky, although I didn't want to sound disappointed. But.. why would I be disappointed? Paris nodded.
"She returned.. she was worried about him.." We remained speechless, I couldn't stop thinking and thinking. "So you weren't lying" Said Paris, suddenly. I looked up at him.
"About what?" Our eyes met again.
"About Hector.. you love him, I can see it in your face" He smiled kindly, but his eyes didn't show the same feeling.
"What?!" I smiled too, but avoided his gaze. "I..I don't love anyone, Paris" He stared at me. "And now.. what will you do? Will you go with Helen?" He looked away, separating a bit from me.
"Maybe" This was his cold reply. Why was he acting like that?
"So I was right.." I murmured, trying to look cheerful. "You love her.. you make a nice couple" He looked again at me.
"Where is my father? "This sudden change of subject made me react. "I saw him speaking with you."
"Paris... we must meet Hector.. I have something to tell you both" I walked towards the entrance, but Paris took my arm, stopping me.
"Hector is weak now, he doesn't feel well. Tell me what's going on, Alana. He's my father and I have the right to know. When Hector will feel better, we'll go there" I stood still, observing Paris. His arrogant attitude had returned. But I knew that he was suffering. He was worried about his father, his brother and his cousin. Briseis.. I suddenly remembered about her.
"Sit down, and I'll tell you" He obeyed me, and sat on the stairs. I began to tell the whole story, and his face changed , slowly. After some minutes of silence, he stood up in anger.
"This can't be real" He said, looking around.
"But it is" I had told him the exact words, but avoiding some parts of the conversation. The ones that Priam had confessed to me as a secret.
"He left? For good?! And now what?!" He shouted at me.
"I don't know!" I shouted back. "Do you think it's easy for me? I'll stay here forever! I already don't exist in the future!" But Paris turned around, leaving me alone. "Paris!" He didn't reply, he disappeared in the distance. I walked inside the palace, looking for Hector. When I reached his room, I opened the door and found him laying on the bed, asleep. But Andromache wasn't there. Why did Paris lie to me?
I approached his bed, slowly. He moved his head and opened his eyes. When our gazes met, he smiled. He didn't look too ill, he even sat, leaning against the pillows.
"I'm glad to see you alive" I commented, avoiding his gaze, afraid of telling him about Priam's departure.
"Last night was horrible, Alana.. I didn't know anything about you since I left the water.. but I had to come and help, and.."
"I know, I know, hector.. don't worry about this now. You have to rest.." I took a deep breath.
"And there's something you want to tell me, right?" He asked, and I nodded in silence. "About my father.." I began to tell the story again, but Hector didn't eract in the same way as Paris.
"I?m so sorry, Hector" This is all what I could say. To my surprise, he took my hand.
"My father chose his way.. it's me the one who is sorry for you. You'll have to stay here for good.. and I know this is not what you wanted.." His dark eyes went on looking at me.
"I don't know which is my role here. You all have your lives settled. Paris will go with Helen. Andromache will return.. I'll start my life here without any.. base.."
"Paris is leaving? I don't think so" Hector said. I looked up at him.
"He just told me so.. he also said.. that Andromache was here.." Hector frowned.
"This is my brother. He would do anything to make the girl he likes angry" I felt blushing, but didn't say anything. "I'm not blind, Alana. I also know how do you feel about him"
"You're completely wrong about me" All from the sudden I didn't want to admit that.
"Really?" He replied, with a soft voice. "Then.. who is the one you love, that makes you act so strange sometimes?"
"I don't act strange.." I laughed, but he remained serious. "Hector, you need to get some sleep"
"Remember what I told you some days ago?.. why was Andromache leaving..?" I nodded. "And.. you didn't tell me anything about that" I blushed again.
"I don't know what to say.." I replied, and he stared at me.
"Me neither" In that moment, the door opened and a servant came in, bringing a jar.
"I need to go out" I whispered, leaving. Once in the halls, I looked for a hidden place and sat on the ground. I was becoming crazy.