Chapter twenty-five

Hector woke up with the same bad feeling.. it repeated every day, once and again. He felt as if there was something undone.. something that was waiting for him, but he didn't know how to reach it. It was silent outside, and he frowned. They were living in the middle of a war, but the city seemed to be peaceful.

The next thing he heard was the voice of a man, shouting. Andromache woke up too, they looked at each other and ran outside. She opened her mouth in surprise, and smiled after hearing the stranger's words.

"It's over! The war it's over! " Villagers left their homes, carefully, but soon became confident. It was true. The Greek ships were leaving, and nobody knew why.

"What's happening here?" Asked Hector to the man, who stopped jumping and laughing to look at him.

"Prince Hector, is a miracle of the gods.. he came back, he came back with a big army.. he saved us!" The crowd moved to the beach, running, and Hector followed them, still talking to the stranger.

"Who saved us?" His heart kept a hope, although he kenw it was impossible. Paris was dead. He couldn't come back.

"Achilles, prince" Hector felt dissapointed, pain returning with memories. "Achilles and Briseis gathered in a new country, a distant land, told them about the war.. and they helped them, they helped them!" The man left, running, and Andromache hugged Hector. He was still shocked, unable to understand anything.

"Briseis kept her promise" Murmured his wife, and he looked at her in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"She said, before leaving to Greece, that she had the help from the gods, and her home would always be protected.. she couldn't protect Paris, but she saved us, together with Achilles" Hector felt tears coming, but stopped them.

"Now that everything is over, I have to solve something else" He went appart from her, walking back to palace.

"Hector! Where are you going?" She followed him, hurrying. His dark eyes were staring in the distance, and seemed not to hear his wife's words.

Once inside the palace, he took a small box from a drawer and checked inside. A smile showed up on his lips. He knew it was there. He knew that his father hadn't taken it with him. Priam broke it into two pieces, and obviously it had worked anyway, for the king wasn't there by then. The jewel that made them travel trough time. Andromache touched his arm, and he looked at her.

"We have to try it. We have to go back through time. If two people were able, we'll be able, Andromache. We'll go back, to the day when my father brought the girl.. when we were happy before going to Greece.. and we won't allow anything to happen. Paris will be alive.."

"As well as Alana.." Andromache finished the phrase for him. With a deep sigh, she turned around. "You can't change time, the universe is powerful, you can't choose the time when you live.. you shouldn't play with it"

"This jewel was given to us for some reason. My father left half of it for one reason as well. He knewI would need it. " Hector picked it up, the red stone was shinning under the fire from lamps. "But one thing I promise.. after using it, and fixing all the mess, I'll destroy it. "

"I think you shouldn't do it.. consequences can't be good.. you can't change past, or future, or.." She was begging, but he ignored her.

"Paris and Alana need our help. We won't leave them alone"

"What about the rest? What about your father, Achilles and Briseis? Everything will go back in time with us.. everything.. and people won't know. People won't know it and the same story will be repeated again.. because Paris won't know Alana, you won't know her as well.. can't you see that nothing will change?" He looked at her, shocked. She was right, and he knew he couldn't go back in time. He knew that going back to the past would be to repeat the same story again. He kneeled on the ground, thinking. Andromache sat beside him, putting her hand on his shoulder. His dark eyes met hers, with a smile.

"Then we'll go where they're now" Andromache opened her eyes in surprise.

"What? We can't do it!"

"Yes, we can" He stood up,nervously. "My father was able to choose the time where he wanted to go. We'll do the same" Andromache stood up as well, with anger.

"I won't risk the life of my baby, I won't move from here. What would I do in the future?" She was so scared, but Hector didn't seem to care.

"Maybe you won't be yourself in a future. You'll be another person, with the same appearance, but not the real Andromache.. "

"But what will happen to us? To our son?" She felt tears coming. He took her hand.

"We're destined to be together..we'll find each other somewhere"

"Please, Hector, don't do this, it's crazy.. please.."

"Think about it, think about future, about all the thigns waiting for us.. what do we have here? Destruction, sadness.."

"We have each other.." She was already crying. She knew her husband, he was brave and stubborn, he would never change his mind.

"I promiseI'll find you, wherever you'll be" He said , but she shook her head.

"No, this journey is impossible. If you were destined to leave, you would have left already" He observed her, then looked at the jewel.

"At least I have to try" He ran outside, towards the beach. But Andromache didn't follow him.

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After a couple of days, I had become closer to Jan. His own version about life in Troy had shocked me, and his revelation about being my murderer made me freeze. But at the same time, he was the only connection I had with that world, the only thing that made me sure about my mental health. I needed him to prove myself that I hadn't been dreaming.

He had suffered there so much.. Menelaus was a dictator, he didn't give him a rest. He had seen terrible things, and now he couldn't remove them from his head. I felt sorry for him. But we both had our hard memories, and we couldn't do anything but learn how to live with them.

One morning I saw a letter in the mailbox, an invitation for an art gallery. I was going to throw it to the garbage when I saw a paper attached to it. Jan was inviting me to go with him. And when I read the name of the artist, I couldn't help being surprised. Viggo Mortensen. I knew he liked Spain, for he speaks the language perfectly and spent many time there. But the idea of meeting him in person was exciting, and I was wondering how could had Jan got the invitations, I was sure that they were for selected people only.

I checked in my wardrobe but I didn't find anything decent. And I didn't have money. So I had to wear a simple white suit I had used more times. I wondered who would go, considering that the city wasn't too big and he was a popular man. When Jan picked me up and drove to the gallery, I realised about the importance of the event and how lucky I was. Police was rounding the building, and a crowd of fans were waiting in front of the door.

"How did you get the invitations? Do you know how many people would kill for coming here?" I said, and Jan took my hand, smiling.

"Privileges of being the most famous psichiatrist. They invite important people" I felt so small in that place, and even more when we entered the old building. The ground was covered with expensive carpets, and huge crystal lamps were hunging from the high ceilings. A waiter picked our coats and we entered the main room, where the strange pictures were exposed, and where the guests were having a drink and talking happily. Jan led me to a corner, where we could check them. But I only recognised some famous local people. Dissapointed, I suggested having a drink, when Jan gave me a strange look. "Viggo is in front of us, there.." He pointed at him, just few metres near from us. At first I couldn't recognise him, his hair was short and blonde, and he was wearing an elegant suit. "Would you like to meet him?" Said Jan, and walked towards the actor. In a couple of seconds, he approached my place and smiled.

"Thanks for coming, I hope you're having a good time" We shook hands, and I nodded, smiling as well.

"I didn't know you painted.. and that you made sculptures.." I commented, and he shrugged.

"We have a life besides acting, I'll show you my favourit creations" Jan joined us and we walked some steps, to a lonely wall. Viggo looked at me, waiting for a remark.

"I'm not an expert on art, but I like how you paint.. and you must be good, else there wouldn't be a crowd waiting outside" I said, knowing that the main reason was his fame as an actor, and Jan gave me a warning look. I felt my face reddening.

"Well, besides this.." He was smiling and I felt less uncomfortable. "..all the crowd you've seen outside is not because of me" His blue eyes searched around, and then looked at Jan. "I brought two famous friends with me, I suppose they're hidding somewhere"

"And I thought I was fmaous.." Said Jan, kidding. Viggo smiled.

"Believe me, my fame is nothing compared with my two friend's fame" He said, taking a drink from a tray.

"Don't exaggerate, come one.." Said Jan, but Viggo went on nodding.

"I knew that when I invited Elijah I was making a good choice" He smiled again, and I looked at him surprised.

"Elijah Wood?" I asked.

"See?" Said Viggo, looking at Jan. "She knows him very well"

"Well, no.." I blushed again. "I didn't mean this" I felt uncomfortable, as if I was stealing Viggo's moment and fame.

"Don't worry, Alana.. I'm used to this.. when we filmed Lord of the Rings, it was their caravan the one that needed bodyguards, not mine" He laughed.

"So I suppose you didn't bring more famous friends with you, else this would be the meeting centre of all the fans in the world" Jan commented, smiling, and Viggo's eyes searched around again.

"The truth is that I made another big mistake.." He said, joking and pretending to be upset. "I brought one of the most desired men in the world.. but where is he? I'm sure he needs some peace, and as you don't look like crazy fans.." His blue eyes went on searching. I was wishing that he wouldn't mention anybody else from the trilogy, knowing that my reaction would be noticed by them.

"Alana, can you please wait here? I want to bring some snacks" Said Jan, leaving me alone with Viggo, who was now moving his hand in the air and calling someone.

"Yes, there he is, I'll ask him to come, this is crowded and I have to talk to the rest of guests..so you'll be his company" Viggo was taller than me, and I couldn't see anything through the crowd. Someone was coming, obviously, and people were moving to let him come. "Come here! Here!" Said Viggo, and I looked at Jan, who was now picking up a dish, and when I turned my head again, I saw something that made me loose all my senses. Viggo brought his friend to the place where I was standing, and when I looked at him, his face showed the same shock and the same surprise. There, standing, just beside me, was Orlando. He was staring at me, and opened his mouth trying to talk, but no sound came. My legs were shaking so much that I couldn't move.. I couldn't speak.

"Alana.. this is Orlando. Orlando, she's a new friend, she came with a famous doctor..oh, here he comes. Jan, I would like to introduce you to one of my best friends, Orlando Bloom" Said Viggo, and I also noticed the surprise in Jan's face, for he knew my story. We exchanged a shocked look. Then, Viggo left.

"Eh.. pleased to meet you.. ehm.." Jan didn't know what to say. "I think I have to go to the toilet.." He smiled and left us alone. A girl came, shouting and laughing.

"Oh, my god! I can't believe it, I'm with Orlando Bloom!!" She hugged him, and he tried to calm her down. After some seconds, she left ,with her face so red, talking to her friends. I hadn't moved since he had come. I was still holding the same cup, in the same position. I had seen the girl come, and the girl leave. I wanted to say at least one word, but he spoke first, coming close to me.

"Come with me, this is too crowded." He took my hand and led me to a room appart. The place behind was an old big living room, probably a meeting point in that old building. He locked the door and then stared at me. "This is imposible.. what are you doing here?" he asked, walking towards me. He was wearing an elegant suit, and his hair was still long.. like in Troy.

"I could ask you the same.." My voice was shaking so much. He smiled.

"This can't be real.." We looked at each other, without saying a word. I wasn't able to speak and in that moment, I was so shocked that I couldn't even move. And he was silent as well, so the whole situation was odd. His dark eyes suddenly shone with a strange light, and a sweet smile showed up on his lips.

And then, without a second to think, before I could react, he wrapped me with his arms and kissed me for a long time. Soon my arms reacted and I hugged him back, as if we were in Troy, as if we weren't living in the real world. Being so close to him was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

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Jan walked towards Viggo, and they both moved to a place appart. Making sure that nobody listened to them, Jan took an envelope form a pocket.

"Thanks for contacting me, Jan. I really didn't know how to help my friend. I'm still wondering how did you manage to get my number.." Said Viggo, picking up the envelope and opening it. When he saw the picture inside, his eyes opened. "So in the end the story was real.." The pictures Alana had taken with the digital camera were there.

"Those are the only proofs I have. It's a miracle that I found the camera and that the pictures survived.. "

"Where's the gate? The door that communicates present with past?" Viggo's eyes were shinning, but Jan shook his head.

"You have to understand that it's soemthing that can't be known. World would turn into a bad place where to live.." Commented Jan. "I discovered it a couple of years ago.. but believe me that if someone tried tofind out about it, I would leave and never come back" He smiled. "Thank you very much for bringing Orlando here, Viggo.. I felt so guilty after killing her, I owed her this.." Jan sighed, and Viggo shook hands with him.

"Thanks to you for finding her" Replied Viggo. And Jan frowned.

"Do you know which is the strangest thing? " He made a pause, and Viggo waited. "That I didn't find her.. she came to me.." They both kept silence for a while.

"Destiny made its work" said Viggo. They smiled. Jan took his coat.

"I suppose she won't need me to go back home" Said, with an ironical smile.

"It's not funny, Orlando came in my car!" He laughed and said goodbye to his new friend. Once alone, Viggo looked at the closed door, happy for having helped one of his best friends.

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Disclaimer: everything is fiction. FICTION :) Viggo didn't come to my city, neither Orlando. And if you don't believe me.. then I'm sure you think I'm a lucky girl :)