Disclaimer: only own Alana.
A/N: So maybe this will be the last chapter before holidays, I'm leaving tomorrow in the morning.. but don't worry, I promise I'll settle many things here : ) And you won't be confused about pairings any more : ) It will be a very spiritual chapter : ) I hope you all will have a nice summer and that you won't forget about me when I'll come back in September! : ) Happy holidays!!!!!
Chapter nineteen.
I was sitting there, under a window, hidden from all sights. My head was spinning, many things had happened and I had to put order in them. I decided to go to the beach and watch the sea, the relaxing movement of waves and breath fresh air. I left the palace with the hope that I wouldn't find anybody. It was the first time I really needed to be alone, because I was going to take a decision, an important decision.
Once there, I chose a peaceful place, by the rocks, where I sat and crossed my legs. I had taken an apple with me, it was about time to eat something. The sun was already high, and I looked at my arms. My skin was even more tanned than before, but the sun seemed not to be so harmful as in my future times. The horizon was blue, only few clouds remained from the last storm.
I had to put order in my thoughts, and the most important one was about my new life there. What would I do? How would I live my life? Working? Serving? Those things were worrying me a lot. Those were different times and a girl couldn't survive by herself. Unless I married someone, or unless I was born in a rich family, which wasn't the case.. I was useless. I felt my hands shaking again, but tried to think clearly and be reasonable. Sure there was a solution.
About Hector, I had taken a decision. I thought about all his life, and Andromache's life. She had left everything to be with him, family, home.. everything. This meant that they loved each other so much, or else he wouldn't have brought her and marry. Andromache was having a bad time, and I understood her. If I was her, I would also leave. But I wouldn't allow that to happen. I would bring Andromache back, and leave Hector alone. It was true I felt something for him, but something completely different from what I felt for another person.. with Hector I felt protected and safe, but he had a son and a wife and even if he chose me, I could never live with the fact that I had broken a family. So Hector would stay away from my life.
A bit more calmed, now that I had settled one thing, I had to think about the other problem. Paris. I hated to admit that what I felt for him was really strong, totally different from anything I had felt before. Since the first time I had seen him I knew that my life would be condemned. It was something impossible, he would never love me. He had Helen, a queen, a perfect woman.. although her personality was terrible, Paris was famous because of having beautiful girls, so I guessed he didn't care about her inner side too much, he would get the most desired woman across all empires. So.. which was my situation then? I loved Paris, but I would have to accept that he would be apart from me. Like hector.
So.. after putting order in my head, I didn't like the final solutions, because they didn't mean anything good for me.. whatever I did, I would loose. I stood up, walking back to the city. I would look for something to do, ask someone how could a girl like me survive in a world like Troy. And then.. go on with my life.
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Paris walked slowly, around the rocks, by the sea. He had to think clearly, plan something. Situation had changed a lot since the last time he felt that things were finally settled. He had thought that Helen was all his world, but as time passed, those thoughts were totally different. Sure Helen was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. But he wondered if he would be able to live with a person who was able to send a soldier to kill an innocent girl, a woman who felt powerful and who would do anything to get what she wanted. For the first time he doubted about her, if she really was the good person he wanted. And the conclusion came easily to his head. She was a devil, she used her appearance to manipulate men, and she didn't care about the rest of the world.
Paris stopped, looking at the sea. He had admitted it. He had admitted that he needed someone better in his life, someone he could love, and someone who loved him in return. His years of parties, girls and having fun were over. He felt changed since.. since Alana had arrived. That thought scared him. A girl, an unknown girl had changed him.. a plain girl like hundreds. But she wasn't like the rest.. she had something inside that made her different..
He shook his head, walking again. How could he be thinking about Alana like that? They had been arguing since she had arrived. She liked Hector, and Hector loved her. If she had to choose, the answer was obvious. Hector was a brave, noble and honourable man, the best of his kind and the most loyal person in the world. How could a girl refuse him? Even more, how could a girl refuse this man if he told her that he was in love? Surprised with his reaction, because Paris felt hurt, he decided that it was time to take a decision. Briseis was missing, Achilles would goon trying to get Alana to Greece. And he had to stop him. For Briseis.. and for Alana.
But now Alana belonged to his world.. his father had left for good.. but why? Paris knew he had hidden reasons for that.. Priam would never leave without a strong reason. And with Alana living there, life wouldn't be easy. She could stay in palace and she wouldn't starve, they would take care of her forever, this wasn't a problem. But she was still young, he was young.. their lives were just beginning. He knew she was worried about everything, about the place where she would live. He wanted to calm her down and, at the same time, he wanted to see how would she plan everything. Smiling, he imagined her trying to find a job or even joining the soldiers. Looking at the sea, Paris went on walking, alone with his thoughts.
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The sea was calmed that day.. I went on walking, far away from the palace, absent minded. When I looked up, I saw someone approaching, someone who was walking as absent minded as I was. I became scared.. what if he was an enemy soldier? My heart was beating so fast, and I stopped. In the distance, he stopped as well. My first impulse was to turn around and run, run fast. But then, he went on walking, and I recognised him. A soft breeze moved his hair, and I could see a smile on his lips.
"Alana.. what a surprise to see you here" I felt my face reddening, and looked at the sea, while Paris came closer.
"I needed to walk, I have to think" Our eyes met, he was serious now.
"I was thinking too.." We kept silence. "Can I walk with you?" He asked, joining me.
"Of course" Why was I so nervous? We started our slow walk, in silence. I wanted to ask him so many things, and at the same time, I couldn't. I noticed he was concentrated, looking at the sand as we advanced.
"Can I ask you something?" He said, and I was surprised to see that we were having similar thoughts. I nodded. "What will you do now? It seems the war is over, my father left.. you have to stay here in this century.." He looked at me for a while.
"What am I supposed to do, now that I belong here? I mean, what would a girl of my age do in Troy to survive? I need a home, I need food.." Suddenly, I was exposing all my worries to him. When I saw his smile, I stopped. "What?" I frowned.
"You don't have to worry about this, because we have a place for you in our palace. You will live there with us and you will have everything you'll need "
"What?" I asked, shocked. "Are you talking seriously?" I couldn't believe that , it was too good to be true. My biggest worry was gone.
"My father would have wanted so" His dark eyes shone.
"And what do you want?" He watched at me, surprised. "I mean.." I said, fast. "You and Hector.."
"My brother will agree, I'm sure. How can you doubt it by now?" He smiled.
"What do you mean? "I blushed again.
"Come on, Alana.. you know how does he feel about you" He replied, with a strange tone of voice.
"But I won't allow anything to happen. He belongs to Andromache and I'll do my best to settle things between them" Paris stopped, and I looked back at him. His face was unreadable, staring at me.
"You don't love him?" He asked, and I shook my head.
"No, Paris. I told you this once and I repeat it. I don't love Hector" The silence that came later became uncomfortable.
"But you love someone.." I avoided his gaze, looking into the water, as if I was looking for something there. A wave was coming and I decided to refresh a bit, I had to move away from him, he was making my head spin.
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Paris observed her, as he waited for an answer.. she was acting strange, coming into the sea. What was she doing? He smiled, thinking about how lovely she looked acting like a child. And in that moment he knew it. He loved her. It was a big discovery, but it was true. He needed her and he wouldn't let her go. Helen was nothing, the past was erased. Destiny had brought Alana for him, and his father had known it since the very first moment.
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"Water is cold.." I murmured, coming inside, until it covered half of my legs. That was a strange reaction from my part. Paris was looking at me, amused. But the expression in his eyes was different now.. it made me scared, what I saw on him by then was.. no, that couldn't be possible.
"Alana, what are you doing? This is how you avoid the important questions? Coming into the sea?" I gathered forces to look at him.
"Avoid what?" I asked, innocently. He sighed.
"Come here" He said, and I paralysed. He smiled. "Alana.. come here" My legs were shaking but I left the water slowly.
"I don't know what do you want to know, Paris. You ask me confusing questions" He went on looking at me, and the whole situation was becoming unbearable.
"I think it was a very simple question.." He whispered. "A question I want to know" He placed himself in front of me.
"Repeat it, please.." This was all what I was able to say. He laughed.
"Alana.. do you love someone? Here, or in your world?" I looked up at him, without knowing what to say.
"Why do you want to know it? It's none of your business. " He nodded.
"Maybe it's not the business of a person who you have just met.. but after all what we lived together.. what if I'm interested?" His dark eyes still showed an unreadable expression.
"Why would you be interested?" I asked again. Silence came.
"Because maybe it would help me to tell you something" His answer made me freeze, it was the less expected answer. Or was he talking about Hector?
"Hector loves Andromache, he just needs to remember it again" Paris nodded.
"You're right.. but I wasn't talking about Hector" He said, with half of a smile.
"But.. who else could be? I don't know anybody else than.." I became quiet. No, it couldn't be true. And why was he staring at me like that? "Paris, if this is a joke, or one of your tricks.."
"Please, Alana... reply my question.." I frowned. If he wanted me to confess, he wouldn't get it. He should do it first.
"Why? To tell me later that you're sorry but you love Helen?" A moment of silence came, and I saw his eyes brightening all from the sudden.
"No, no, Paris, wait.." I said, but he came closer to me. "Don't play with me.." Now only few centimetres separated us. "You'll leave Troy and take Helen, and then.."
"Forget about Helen.." He whispered, putting one of his arms around my waist, and caressing my face with his free hand. I still can't explain what happened then, his lips touched mines and that I kissed him back, hugging him, his hand on my neck.. And I forgot about everything. About the war, about the journey, about Helen and Hector.. I was with Paris, and nothing else mattered.
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Achilles had spent the whole night talking to Briseis, and he had started to feel something new inside him. That girl had charmed his senses. Confused, he woke up from his bed, looking at her. She was laying some metres away, on the ground. The tent was big enough to allow them a bit of separation.
Briseis opened her eyes, and saw Achilles staring at her. She felt strange. She had never felt like that before. He was a stranger, an enemy.. but after the conversation, when they had shared their fears and secrets.. she knew he wasn't the person he looked like. Maybe in the outside he was a killer, a warrior.. but deep inside, he had a heart. A heart he was starting to share.
"How did you sleep?" He asked, with soft voice. Briseis observed him.
"You're not the person I thought you were.." He frowned, standing up and walking towards her. She sat on the blankets. "Achilles, you're different.. don't let them spoil you"
"What are you talking about?" His blue eyes looked at her coldly, but she shook her head.
"Why don't you let your heart open? I want to know you" He approached her, sitting beside her place.
"I don't deserve to be known. I'm a killer" He said, with anger in his voice.
"You're what you want to be.. don't let them choose for you." He looked at her, she was coming closer. "I don't know what happened last night, Achilles.. but I'm a new person now. "They stared at each other, and he smiled.
"The same happened to me. "She touched his hand, but he moved away. "I have to finish my job and take the girl" Briseis sighed.
"Now you're the usual Achilles, the one I don't like. Why do you have to do such a stupid thing?" He turned around to meet her.
"I don't care which Achilles do you like, Briseis. This is my destiny, I didn't choose it"
"My destiny was to serve the gods and stay pure.. and I'll do my best to change it with you" She stood up, and walked towards him. "We have the power to change things.. don't be afraid of doing it" He looked at her , surprised. Then kissed the woman standing in front of him. Briseis wrapped her arms around him. "Sleep with me, Achilles"
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