Captivated
Chapter 12: Apollo's guiding
Seven days and nights have past since the tragic death of Hector came and gone in Troy's walls. Those nights have been filled with nightmares of Hector's mumbling last words he spoke to Achilles. "In battle my brother will kill you." Each syllable spat out another drop of blood and it was strange to Paris dreaming something so vividly that he never saw. It was now the morning before the first battle after the funeral rites and Prince Paris was strapping on his armor.
Helen paced back and forth with more alarm in her strides then a cornered leopard. He noticed her hasty steps behind him. The rustle of her dress brought more doubt of his actions. What am I doing? This isn't for pretend, I may never come back. And Helen will be all alone...I am no warrior.
"Paris! Stop this folly!!" her pleas of no grew Paris' courage higher. It was nice that someone would miss him when he was gone. "Please!!" She dropped on her knees pulling his skirts. "Whatever there is between you and your father can be dealt with in anther way."
"No Helen." He brought himself down with his trembling wife, wiping away her tears. "It's not for that. It's the only thing I can give to the people of Troy."
"YOU'RE LIFE!!" Helen bawled.
"No, my commitment with this war! It's my fault it happened and so many have suffered for it but us. I want to prove to them I'm not afraid." He left Helen to retrieve his bow.
Remaining on the ground, Helen's hope for changing his mind flickered away. She accepted the fact that he was going to war, but did not dare dwell on him not returning.
"What will you do?" She asked.
"I will kill Achilles." He answered before leaving her be and to the fields.
"Apollo you must do this!!! I will not tolerate your decline to this!!!" Eris gripped Apollo's chair with all her might. The golden god sitting in it below her staring out into the open, pondering on the matter.
"I've told you Eris, I will be caught and then what! Either be cast out by Zeus or forever be hated by my mother. And unlike you Eris, I actually care about my parents!"
Eris was at a point of making any rash actions to insure Paris' life on the battle field.
But she really wanted Apollo to do this, only he would know how to keep Paris out of trouble. She would have if her eyes weren't so lazy. Anything can happen to him under her watch, but with Apollo's quick eyes he could capture a thousand movements and predict the coming affect in a moment's haste.
She began chewing on the flesh of her thumb, frantically in panic of thinking what to do next. Then as if a light flickered in her head she gracefully feel next to Apollo as if begging him, but it was now beg to what she was about to tell.
"If you will not do this for me Apollo," her eyes were hard against his own, not daring to blink off her cover. "Then I will cast my own self into the pools of Hades after stripping my power." When there was balance and contempt, now shone fright and terror.
"What!" It wasn't even said as a question but a sound of his worry. Knowing she had him on a hook she silently left the room with Apollo nipping at her heels.
"Eris you can't be!! This is absurd!! You can't be serious of taking your own life for this mortal! There will be another one, trust me." When his pleas weren't having no effect on the hard-headed goddess he broke down his wall.
"FINE!" His surrender stopped her steps.
"Really?" She wanted to make sure he was truthful.
"Are you happy damn it! Fine, I'll do it but only this once!! And if any, any trace of danger comes towards me I will redirect it to you!!" Ignoring the dangerous warning Eris jumped on Apollo to embrace him.
"Thank you Apollo, thank you!!" her heart now eased to a normal beat and her breathing stilled to a softer breath.
The archers stood on the walls overlooking the fields that were once empty now were dotted with numerous of soldiers fighting for bother sides. The commanders who lead the Trojans out of their cave and into the battle field rode in chariots except for one rouge prince. Behind the walls as the soldiers got ready all of them captured the sight of their living prince who shone so signs of fears as the youth normally did. If one didn't know his character you might have passed him as another young Hector. But just because he stood still on his horse without trembling doesn't mean he won't when he's out on the field, they all thought to themselves. Yet to their surprise, Paris didn't budged back to the wall but instead galloped out of the crowd riding hard along the lines of Trojan soldiers.
As the general rang out his uplifting speech that always meant to be strong for your freedom, Paris hunted out for a glimpse of Achilles' golden armor in the mob of Greeks. No glint of gold shone through the throng and hope of Achilles not being there bubbled inside of Paris. But as the first wave of volleys and men crashed against one another, the warrior himself charged in the thicket of war hard screaming for Paris.
Eris who stood on the hills between beach and city now tightened all her muscles as she saw Achilles' power somehow upraise the demons in the Greek army. Ares was there only to hold her back if she somehow bolts to retrieve Paris. But all gods were forbidden now since Aphrodite was wounded in the battle from saving her son. Her eyes unseen all movement of the battle except of her beloved that compelled into battle. Her heart rose when he succeeded in every blow, but all pride left when she heard the battle call of Achilles. Running into battle wearing his new armor forged by the smith god.
Ares noticed who crafted the armor and was about to say something before his sister said it for him.
"Next time I see that fat smith I'll kill him." She said sinisterly.
Paris was thunderstruck at the sight of the glorious Achilles, and began to slowly step back away from his predator. Now that the prince was in view of Achilles raging eyes he slowed his pace down into a slow walk. Many yards they were away from each other and already men gave them their own arena to see Achilles cut the prince. Those who were loyal to Paris struggled to get through the mob to protect them, but all met the edge of a sword.
"I am here Prince of Troy!" Achilles announced. "And here you tremble without doing the slightest bit attempt to save yourselves! At least your brother did something."
The mention of Hector scraped Paris' pride and he began setting his arrow in place. The warrior now seeing his weapon began charging at the prince. He was getting closer and closer then Paris wanted and he panicked at the sight of his doom. The excepted would of happened it Apollo wasn't behind Paris.
The prince of gods quietly walked up to his ear and slowly directed Paris' trembling hands in position. Apollo's touch was so gentle and light that it was impossible for Paris to feel his warm. As the arrow was inline with Achilles he blew delicately into the mortal's ear, making him release the bow with such force.
Just when Achilles' heel touched the ground it met Paris' arrow right in the marrow of its bone. As hero collapsed on the covered dirt all went quiet to hear the struggle for his life. It only was a brief moment for him to suffer before he blew his last breath. Before the cheers from the Trojans and the flees of the Greeks came, Paris was already well behind the city's walls.
He sat himself down on a case of stone steps catching his breath. I felt something! Something touched me when I shot that bow. It redirected it for me but who? Eris?! I scold her off to not see me again!! And she saved me...
Before he could finish his thoughts, a flood of the surviving soldiers rushed to touch the victor over Achilles. They cut a river for the father king to praise his son.
"Paris." He said opening his great arms. It had been a week since he talked to Paris and 10 years since he said it in that tone. Priam kissed Paris on both his cheeks before and after he embraced him with all the love he had for this child.
That night was held of celebration and relief in the city of Troy. But the Greeks dragged their tired feet home to their dirty camps, defeated. Both parties were having their own time to deal with the death of Achilles greatly. Troy was now alive with music, dance, wine, feasts, joy, and love again as it was in the past. But they never noticed the glaring eyes of Athena that watched over them with disgust.
"That's it!" Hera began. "It's impossible to kill this Paris!! We hit him with a thousand fleet and the greatest warrior there lived and still he lives sleeping with that mortal girl and that tramp of a goddess!"
"Yes that tramp!" Athena remarked. Hera lowered her fists slowly to calculate Athena's plans.
"You mean—''
"That's right. We will go to Zeus himself to deal with this. Not only will we get back at Paris but get rid of Eris for good."
"But I want to kill him!!! I want to see him suffer his dying life. I want to see and taste his blood on my hands!!" Hera went on of pure vengeance for Paris' life.
"You will get it mother!" Athena hushed. "Trust me. First we will try to persuade Eris to stay out of this and if she does or does not he will die anyway. I have many plans up my sleeve and each one she won't get out of. Not even my beloved brother Apollo will be able to save him." The two vixens chuckled at the thought of helpless Eris and dying Paris. They strolled back to their palaces to retire for the night and sleep of dreams that revealed the death of the prince.