Captivated
Chapter 4: Maddening
Arthor's Note:
Whew! That took a lot of speed typing. I tried to capture to pure agony what Eris was going through. Because, come on girls, who didn't like a guy who was into another girl. Raise your hands! Well that's why I like writing this story so much, because you can actually relate to Eris even if you haven't been in real love. Please REVIEW!
She stayed with Paris all evening and alone since Helen was still feeling poorly under the weather for some reason. The fires were lit in Paris' favorite room. It was a storage room, nothing more but it was built in a circular way as was everything else in box like rooms. The high ceiling was in a dome shape, trapping all sound from the fires flickering on their podiums. A smooth rail in the center of the room guarded people from going into the circular pit that shows into the lower level where you enter this upper room from the stairs. That were the lighted fires were placed, along the golden railing.
Pails of oils were placed between the perfectly spaced statues of gods and goddesses. Heaps of foreign silk and decorated blankets were folded neatly next to the god Apollo. To the direct north of the room was another terrace that Paris always loves to look at the Trojan city from. The sun of Apollo was increasingly dipping below the walls of Troy and would soon sink into the sea.
He was deep in thought of going into battle and facing Menelaus, Helen's former husband, in a challenged fight. That was where Eris was standing right next to him gently running her fingers along his jaw line. He always flinched at the unknown touches that have been annoying him constantly. At first he thought it was fly that just wouldn't go away, but now he believes it's just his mind getting the best of him.
Leaving the spot from where he felt these touches postponed them for a good while before he would feel them again. Eris stood there by the terrace as Paris stared down into the missing circle out of the floor.
Look at me! Eris pleaded with him silently. Why can't you look at me the way you look at her, just for a moment, and you'll see what's waiting for you to take.
It seemed to her that he must hear her, that the silence would open a door and her into his heart if not his eyes.
If she hadn't come into your life, would you have still caught my attention? Would the whispers of your being reach my ears? Would I have blessed you with a kiss now?
But now, with Helen crowding between them, he would never turn to Eris, would never suspect the passion she felt for him. It was beyond bearing any longer and, Eris decided, she would no longer bear it.
She felt bitter at her own pretension. As if the choice were hers! Very soon now Paris would learn to ignore the tender touches she gave him. He would see Helen again when she's strong. They would meet and make love. The idea of them together made Eris tremble with jealousy.
She turned her attention back to the idea of showing herself. What if no one would come? Who would? It would be a secret, their secret.
Paris heard something which plucked his attention to the ground from across the room. A golden apple was placed in front of him, and another was shone next to him and another next to that a little way apart. The line of apples traced along the railing to directly on the other side of the hole. He saw delicate graceful fingers place the next one behind a podium. It was a woman!
A face like that was impossible to be worn by a servant girl or any noble he could think of, that might live here. Her short shimmering dark bronzed dress shimmered in specks of gold. It matched perfectly with her full light brown hair and blonde highlights. They were pulled back loosely to reveal her big brown eyes that glowed in the fire.
He just stood there motionless, watching her place an apple one at a time on the railing. She noticed he was looking at her, and Eris looked up at him a couple of times before going back to what she was doing.
What am I doing? Placing apples on the railing for what? A good smell? She questioned herself. Her face was calm and even seductive to Paris. A grin was hidden in the right corner of her mouth making him crave to kiss.
By the time she came to him, a gasp escaped her mouth releasing her thoughts. He sees me!
"Who...Who are you?" the prince questioned, startled by this creature. He felt like this before. This uncontrolling passion that already made his head dizzy and tired after a climax of ecstasy. The question was answered already before she spoke.
"I am the Goddess of Spite." Her voice sounded like it came from a woman, but a woman with power. She carried her words with dominate masculine presence as well as her stature. She passed him to brighten the dulling fires speaking. "But you will call me Eris." The rest was left to Paris to continue the conversation. But he made no noise of dialogue.
"And you are Paris, prince of Troy. The one who started it all, is it not?" she turned her eyes to glance once more at him staring at her. Usually those who stared at her didn't make her blush and feel uncomfortable, so why was his stare making her do so?
"I didn't do anything! I was given a prize from the goddess, and those who have come to fight still don't understand that she is rightfully mine now." Paris was beyond angered, to be placed blame again on the suffering. He was weary of the evil eyes and tired of the cruel whispers behind his back. And Eris accusing him of it struck a nerve.
The smooth motions and expressions of Eris dropped swiftly from her form into a sadden position of looking into her trembling fingers. The word 'mine' echoed in her memory. Tears of sorrow and resentment filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks while Paris came to retrieve her from her silent crying.
"My goddess, I am sorry for yelling over you, please have mercy and forgive of my foolish words!" He was more afraid of his life then of Eris' state, which didn't help her to control the emotions. Her face was flushed and her temper raw.
"Why do you torment me so!!?" She pushed his comforting arms away from her. The words continued to pour out of a sour throat full of tears and anger. "I've risked so much already for you to see me! And now! I prayed that I've never saw you when I came back from the seas!!"
She collapsed on her knees and hid her face in the palms of her hands that now dripped of her tears. The prince, confused and pained of what he had unknowingly conflicted on this creature, knelt down beside her gently taking a hold of her shoulders.
"My goddess I-'' before he was finished Eris cut him off with her shouts.
"I am not your goddess...She is, and I can't do anything but weep here like...like...her!!" Ignoring her last offense from touching her, Paris slipped his arms gracefully around her waist, firmly squeezing out the last of her tears. It was like he already knew the contours of her body. "Shhh." He sang to her. The calmness of his voice quieted the torn goddess.
He began rocking her, still shushing her like a child. Eris tightened their embrace by holding his arms and falling back into him. They continued holding each other when the fires dimmed and disappeared into the strongest wind that hushed them out. He fell into sleep long ago before the fires were out. When Eris awoken from the happiest state she had been in, she carried Paris away into his bed.
After arranging him perfectly on the empty bed she crawled right next to him and watched his body rise and fall after each breath. Gods and goddesses did not obtain 'breath', and Eris was fascinated by the sounds and movements he made because of this. She laid her head gently on top of his chest to hear the pounding of his lively heart.
If she had the power, she would use it to keep this night and this sleep forever stay still in the turning world. The rhythm of Paris' heart comforted Eris and sang her into a deep sleep, unknowing of the risk she is taking as she dreams life with Paris the godlike prince.