Last chapter

I woke up in an unknown room. My eyes needed time to get used to the darkness. Confused, I left the bed, looking around. The place was big, a glassless window showed the landscape, the sea in the distance. The smell of plants and flowers from the garden made me remember. I knew where I was. I was in Troy.

I opened the door and ran into the halls. A soft breeze came, and I looked at both sides. It was empty. No voices, no sounds.. I had arrived after the war. Half of the palace was destroyed, and from a balcony I saw people repairing their homes. Jan had sents us back there. How was that possible?

I felt a bit scared. That was my final destiny, the beginning of everything, of all my reincarnations. I wasn't sure I would like that. Not after what I had heard the previous night, for my heart belonged to another person. This thought made me even more scared. What if Paris didn't want to come? Would I be condemned to live and die in that place, alone, or in the company of someone I appreciated but didn't love?

Once in the halls I stopped and searched around. An old woman was cleaning the stairs, outside, and I walked towards her. She looked up at me, with a smile.

"We thought you would never wake up" I frowned, surprised. She went on smiling and took my hands. "You scared us, Anassa"

"Anassa?" I asked, and the woman laughed.

"For all the gods! You don't remember your own name? Serving in this palace made you live in a world of dreams" She went on sweeping, and I stared at her.

"Serving? " Then I remembered Jan's words. I was a servant in Troy. And obviously I had had a different name, for Alana was my future name. The woman looked impatient.

"Listen, girl, you were injured during the war and I know you needed time to recuperate. But now you look perfectly well, so stop saying nonsense and help us with this work. Half of the city is ruined and it's our duty to make the palace look better" She walked inside the building, and I stood there, shocked. What kind of life had I accepted to live?

I ran inside and looked for someone else. Soldiers observed me with indifference, and I opened all doors, with the hope that in the opposite side I would find a friendly known face. But the place looked empty. I saw a boy cleaning, and I ran towards him.

"Where are they? Hector, Paris...Briseis.." He looked up at me as if I was crazy.

"Anassa.. you really lost your memory.. Briseis was captured.. she left with Achilles.. Andromache escaped, the Spartans wanted to make her their slave and she left with her son one morning, before the sun rose. About Paris, the last news we had from him were that he ran away to Sparta, and Hector.. nobody knew about him again" He went on cleaning, and I left, walking slowly. I was alone there. Jan hadn't sent them with me. Paris hadn't accepted this life and he stayed in the future. My head was spinning. I wanted to die.

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Hector listened to the old woman's words in surprise. They were sitting in the garden, hidden from all sights. The servant had been crying on his shoulder, murmuring words about the miracle, that he was alive and so on. Hector had asked her about situation in Troy, and she had made an emotive summary.

"And you don't know where is she?" He asked, hoping the woman would be able to give an answer.

"I don't know.. she just left.. far away.. I'm sorry, prince, for my behaviour.. but here nobody seems to remember things.. the servant Anassa had just asked me the same things.." Hector frowned.

"Anassa?" He asked, and the old woman nodded.

"Yes, she was injured some time ago and woke up today for the first time.. what's wrong, prince?" She said, when she saw his expressiong. He stood up and walked towards the palace.

Once inside, he ran in the halls, looking through the windows, and he saw a young boy cleaning. The boy observed him surprised.

"Do you know where is Anassa?" The boy gaped at him. The prince asking about a servant?

"She was here some minutes ago.. she was looking for you and for Paris.." The boy murmured, but Hector had already left. Anassa was Alana, no doubt about that.

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I found Hector's room, and stopped in front of the door. I decided to come in, and saw the place where he shared his nights with Andromache and their son. It looked so empty that a feeling of sadness invaded me. I sat on the bed, thinking. When did things complicate so much?

I moved my hand across the silky sheet, and my fingers touched a sharp edge. A piece of paper was hidden there. Curious, I picked it up and read.

"Dear Hector.. you decided to leave.. I understand your feelings towards your brother. I promised myself I would wait for you forever.. but things got complicated. Spartans are coming for me. I know it. I must leave where nobody will find me.I had to invent a story about a lover who rescued me. Never believe it when servants will tell you. If you'll ever return, read this carefully: I'm living in the land where the forests protect me. You know where is it, for we talked about our dream of going there together. Always yours, Andromache"

I kept this piece of paper with me, and felt terrified. Jan had said that my mission here was to be with Hector, that it was the only way to finally go to the place everybody goes after death.. and the only way to stop with reincarnations. But were reincarnations so bad? Was I so unhappy in the future? Mixed feelings were invading me.

The door opened and Hector showed up, surprised. He ran towards me and took me in his arms.

"Alana! We've come, we're finally here!" I hugged him back, still holding the piece of paper in my hands.

"Hector, please, wait.. you must listen to me.." His dark eyes observed me as I pushed him away.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Sit down, please.." I said, and he obeyed. I gave him the letter, and he picked it with trembling fingers. His face changed as he was reading it. In that moment I knew that whatever happened between us, or whatever would happen.. Hector would always love Andromache. "When you lived in Troy, and died, you didn't reincarnate any more. You just died. And you were with Andromache"

"What do you mean?" He asked, confused.

"I want to say that your mission is to be with her."

"But I can't leave you here alone.." He said, standing up. But I shook my head.

"Hector, I know how much do you want to leave and find her. I'm also in love, so I know how does it feel to be separated from your other half.." I smiled, and Hector gaped at me.

"You're in love.. with my brother? Also now, in this life?" He asked. "So it was true?" I nodded again.

"But he didn't come.." I said, feeling pressure in my chest, and tears coming to my eyes. Hector smiled.

"Alana, what are you saying?" He commented, taking my hand.

"He won't come. Jan didn't convince him" I was about to cry, but Hector shook his head.

"I know my brother. If he loves you,he will come. Trust me" I wasn't too convinced. After all, he hadn't proved his love the last time. He had refused to leave his career and be with me. But I didn't want to tell this to Hector. Paris was his brother, and I knew they would never meet each other again. I wanted him to have a good image of Paris before leaving. Because I knew that Hector was leaving.

"Go with her, Hector. I don't care about my mission.. I can't ask you to sacrifice everything to be with me, if you don't want.. my mission would be over if I loved you and you loved me.. but it's not the case" He smiled and nodded.

"I must admit that at some point I really felt something for you, Alana.. but I still can't know why. All I know is that I want to be with my wife and my son" He sighed, and then hugged me. "Good luck, Alana. It was a pleasure to meet you. I'll never forget you."

"I'll also remember you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for your help, for.."

"Shhh, you don't have to go on" He said, smiling and walking away from me.

"Take care" I said, as I saw him crossing the door, leaving me alone in the palace, alone in Troy. Because I knew that Paris would never come.

I was surprised when, at night, a crowd arrived in the palace. The sound of their voices woke me up, and the halls were invaded by laughs and shouts. What was going on? I left my bed, my small room, and walked outside. The servants were hugging each others, and when they saw me, two women came and hugged me as well.

"What's going on?" I asked, confused, and the women started to cry.

"The prince, the prince is alive!" They shouted, and I nodded. I had been with him in the evening. Hector was alive indeed. But he was leaving. I walked through the corridors and reached the hall. Horses , soldiers.. a crowd around them.. probably Hector was leaving. They were saying him goodbye. It was a sad scenario. What would be of Troy?

I went to a corner, where I could see everything without being disturbed. I leaned against a column, waiting. The group moved to the back part of palace. I couldn't see well. So Hector left and soldiers are coming back to palace. This is it, I thought. The servants went back to their rooms and silence came. I stayed sitting there, looking at the full moon. The hall was dark, and I felt comfortable. I leaned my head against the wall, and observed the starry night. Tears were coming again, and I couldn't stop them.

"Don't you think it's too late to be awake?" I heard, and stood up fast. That voice.. was I dreaming? I left the corner and saw a shape in the dark hall. He was tall, but he wasn't Hector. And at the same time... no, that was impossible. He walked towards me, and I opened my mouth in surprise.

"Paris! You came.. when?" I was paralysed, and he didn't' move.

"Tonight.. didn't you hear the crowd?" He walked some steps towards me. So it was him the one who had arrived, and not Hector leaving. Now I was able to see his dark eyes. And I couldn't react. "You won't say antyhing? Our first meetings are always like this?" He teased, and I shook my head.

"I must be dreaming.. " I murmured, and he smiled, wrapping me with his arms.

"It's not a dream" He whispered, and his lips were on mines before I could realise. He was there, with me. He had come. To live with me. In Troy. The beginning of everything.He touched my face and observed me with a smile. His arms still wrapping me. "If the only way to be with you was this.. I couldn't stay in the year 2004 knowing that you would be here."

"What will happen now? "I asked. "Do you know that my name here is Anassa?" He laughed, and nodded.

"Anassa means queen in Greek" He said. "And you'll be the queen" He murmured.

"What?" I replied, shocked. "I'm a servant here, Paris.." I realised I had called him by his old times name. He smiled again.

"My father died, my brother left.. I'm the king of Troy" He said, his dark eyes staring at me. Then, kneeling on the ground, he took my hand. "Using the 21rst century style.." He smiled. "Anassa.. will you marry me?"

"Of course I will" I replied, and we kissed again.

So that was everything. I wondered what was going to happen in a future. My name would be in the history books, if Homer decided to write about me. I didn't know if my mission was done. I didn't know how many times I would have to reincarnate. I didn't know where was Jan. All I knew was that I was happy. A new life began for me. To be the queen of Troy,a city that was being rebuilt.. a new imperium. The wife of Paris, actually Orlando Bloom. What else could a 21rst century girl ask for?

THE END

A/N: I scared you all, right? : ) You all thought she would stay with Hector? No, no.. not if Paris was still alive : ) And he was! I'm a bit sad that this is the end, because I got used to get news from all of you. My offer is still here. If any of you want to make a sequel, email me and we'll agree on it. You know I can't go on using internet, first I must graduate and stop failing exams : ) It was nice to meet all of you, and I really hope you liked the end! Take care,

Susana