The Experience of a Lifetime

Disclaimer: I do not own Troy, just Lena and Damil.

Chapter Three

Realization

Lena stared upon the vast beach before her and watched as the vicious waves crept onto the sandy bank. The slight breeze caressed her cheeks and she closed her eyes as a feeling of comfort settled in the pit of her stomach. Apollo was there for her, she felt it. He knew of her troubles. Her one only fear. She wondered if he could help her, but she doubted it. This was something that was meant for her to live with. It was the will of the gods and she had to deal with it.

Lena sighed and strode down the concrete steps and into the hot, dry sand. She walked the beach and gazed out to the horizon. The sky was clear with the exception of a few clouds, but they were dark. The blessing of rain was abroad the shores of Troy. Hopefully her brothers could endure the storm ahead of them. She knew they could. Her brothers could do anything. They were the protectors of Troy, the future of her people.

Oh how she missed them already. It would be a long and interesting adventure for her being on her own. Just considering all of the dangerous possibilities with her brothers gone made her stomach crawl. Maybe this was a sign, a sign that she needed to continue on with her life and let the past go. She wished she could, but it wasn't that easy. She had tried many times before, but had failed. If she hasn't been able to cope with her past for ten years then there mustn't be any hope for her now, right?

Lena continued treading through the wet sand near the sea until she came to an abrupt stop. She heard a voice calling her name as it traveled through the wind and she turned around to see Briseis dashing towards her. Lena waited for her cousin to catch up with her and she smiled reassuringly as she saw Briseis' worried expression.

"You had me worried. I didn't know where you went off to." Lena shrugged and stared towards the sky.

"I apologize for concerning you. I just needed some time to think. What a more perfect place, huh?" Briseis smiled in response and glanced around her. The beach was rather quiet and peaceful.

"Yes." Briseis returned her attention to her cousin and witnessed the distress hidden behind her eyes. She knew what troubled her, though she could offer her no comfort. There was no more for her to give. "Would you like to return home now?" Lena nodded and took one more glance at the rapid waves. How easy it would be to get lost in the waves and be taken by the sea with Apollo guiding you to the most beautiful place ever known. The thought had crossed her mind more than once. She drew in a breath and followed her cousin, arm in arm back to the city.

The wind wisped through his hair as he watched the dark clouds gather round and he looked down at the raging waters below him. The storm would hit in an hour or so. It was time to prepare.

"Let loose the sails. We'll make good time." Paris looked at his brother as he voiced his command and then glanced about as the crew rummaged around the boat. He admired his brother greatly, especially the courage he displayed every single day of his life. He could only wish he had the same. He had never been in a battle, he had never loved…there was so much he still had to endure in life. It was only a matter of time he guessed.

Hector glanced at his younger brother as he appeared deep in thought and he nudged him on the shoulder. "The storm grows nearer. It shouldn't be long now." Paris peered up at him and nodded.

"Yes. Apollo descends to take a rest." Hector smiled at him and then continued to gaze out to sea. Something was also on his mind. He needed to let it out.

"Do you think she will ever recover from it?" Paris furrowed his brows curiously as his brother abruptly changed the subject and he wondered who he was talking about. But then realization dawned on him. Who else could he be speaking of?

"Our sister?" Hector took in a deep breath and watched as the sun descended behind the clouds.

"Just last night, she had awoken from a nightmare screaming. Her eyes were filled with fear and doubt. I didn't know what to do." Hector lowered his head and grasped his hands together. Was there any hope left for a healthy future for his sister? If there was, it would be impossible to find.

Paris knew exactly what his brother spoke of. It was strange in a way. It hadn't bothered her lately. "She hasn't awoken from a nightmare in a long while. I wonder, why now?" Hector shrugged. There were so many reasons.

"Well, I suppose it was due to our leaving. You know how she grows nervous." Paris rose his brows in understanding and nodded.

"Maybe we should return. Our peace with Sparta ca—"No. I will not allow our sister to trouble us." He paused. "She will be fine." Paris closed his mouth and nodded. It seemed his brother was reassuring himself rather than him. Well, hopefully his brother knew of what he was reassuring himself of. Lena always was a bit more…dramatic. Suddenly a crewmember appeared before them with a stern, but surprised expression.

"My Lord…the storm has come." The prince's glanced at each other and then readied themselves for a harsh journey, forgetting all about the previous subject.

Nine Days Later

Lena lay in her bed, running her fingers through her dark tresses as she stared towards her wide, open loft that overlooked the city. She never took her eyes off of it. If looked upon by a stranger she would've resembled a hawk staring down its prey. She did this every night ever since her brothers had left her. She couldn't trust closing her eyes and being off guard without some type of protection near her. That is also why she just recently stashed a knife in a halter on her leg.

Her eyes continued to stare towards the starry sky for what seemed like a lifetime until finally they grew heavy. The wood for her fire had blackened overnight and already began to die down, sucking the warmth from the room. Her lids lowered until they fully closed and her breathing slowed down, indicating that she was in a light slumber.

The next morning Briseis was on her way to the dining hall and she paused as she began to pass the hallway leading to Lena's bedroom. Maybe she should wake her and ask her if she'd enjoy having breakfast with her. It was the least she could do. After all, Lena's been isolated in her room for days and if not there, she'd be in the gardens admiring the beauty of nature or practicing swordplay. Lena thought she was being secretive, but Briseis knew all about her sudden tendency to visit the gardens. She didn't know how she could do it. She was a woman, a princess for goodness sakes! She shouldn't have to learn how to use a sword. A knife maybe, but not a sword. That was what her future husband was for.

Briseis decided to wake her cousin after much thoughtful thinking and she marched down the hall until she arrived at her bedroom door. She knocked and waited for a reply. There was no answer. She knocked once more and yet again no answer.

"Lena. Lena, are you awake?" With no response, Briseis opened the door and warily stepped foot inside of Lena's room. She knew of the dangers of walking into her room now that she carried weapons with her all the time. Of course, in real combat she knew Lena could never gather the courage to use one, but if needed to save her life or another she could drop a person in one swipe.

Carefully, Briseis treaded over to the edge of Lena's bed and there she could see her peaceful cousin resting. The sun had begun to rise and the rays had sunken into Lena's skin, making her glow in an angelic manner. A smile rose to Briseis' mouth as she saw her cousin look at peace for the first time in a long while. It almost brought tears to her eyes.

Anyways, instead of shaking her awake or calling her name Briseis knew of a more practical, useful skill of waking someone early in the morning. She softly stepped over to the end of the bed and gripped the blankets in which Lena lay under. A smirk rose to her lips and in a matter of seconds she ripped the covers from Lena's grasp and her eyes shot wide open. Immediately, she reached for her knife and forcefully sat up while holding the knife in a defensive manner. Briseis chuckled at her cousin's shocked expression and Lena looked at her cruelly.

"Good morning cousin. I gather you rested well?" Lena glared at Briseis and slowly placed her knife back in its halter.

"Yes, cousin. I suppose I did," she replied in a purposely raspy voice. She allowed herself to fall backwards into her pillows and her face scrunched up in the soft cloth. "Why have you awakened me at such an early hour? I had tended to sleep in much later," she remarked with the pillow snuffling her words. Briseis smiled and walked over to the bed and sat upon it while placing her hand on Lena's back.

"Well, I thought maybe you'd like to share breakfast with me this morning. It will be delicious." Lena inwardly groaned as she heard the offer and knew she couldn't resist. She had skipped dinner last night to secretly further her skills in sword fighting and the art of hand to hand combat as a man would call it. To her it was known as survival skills.

Slowly she turned her head towards Briseis, still lying on the pillow and smiled. "How delicious?" Briseis grinned and brought her face in closer to Lena's and spoke as if in a whisper.

"Very delicious." Lena held in a giggle and nodded in understanding.

"Alright. Let me get ready and I'll meet you in the dining hall." Briseis chuckled to herself and wrapped her arms around her cousin in delight.

"Don't take too long dear cousin." Lena laughed and shrugged Briseis off of her before striking her with her pillow. Briseis yelped as the soft cushion hit her on her side and she giggled.

"Well if you leave now I guess I won't have to." Briseis narrowed her eyes playfully as Lena shooed her away and she quickly made her way through the door. Lena shook her head at Briseis' childish ways and then moved her body and got out of bed.

After freshening up a bit and changing into more suitable clothes, Lena was ready to meet Briseis for breakfast. She grabbed her halter from her bed and wrapped it around her left thigh, hiding it under her flowing crème dress. After pressing down her dress to make sure it wasn't noticeable, she made to leave her room, but just as she was about to open the door, it opened itself and Lalaine knocked into her. Lena jumped back in surprise and held her chest as she felt her heart skip a beat.

"Goodness! You scared the life out of me Lalaine!" Lalaine laughed and pushed her way through the door.

"Oh, I'm sorry for frightening you dear. Briseis said you'd be meeting her in the dining hall soon, so I thought I'd come and clean up early." Lena smiled and shook her head yet again at her cousin.

"I see. Thank you Lalaine," and before she could hear a reply she was gone. Lena traveled down the hallway and entered a small garden that led her to the other side of the palace. The flowers were in full bloom and she was being surrounded by beautiful hues of every color imaginable. She absolutely loved it. It made her feel content and warm inside and the addition of the sun made her feel even better. But soon her journey through the small garden had ended and she entered another set of hallways that were lit by the peeking rays of sunlight between columns.

In no time she had arrived at the dining hall and she passed through the open double doors and walked towards a large rectangular table that seated twenty-six. It seemed her father was joining her as well as he was already seated at the other end of the table. Briseis had also already taken her seat to the left of her father and she smiled as Lena came up to her and kissed her on her forehead.

"Good morning again Briseis." Then she knelt her head down towards her father and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Good morning father." She walked around him and then happily seated herself to his right. He looked at her with a soft smile and two raised brows. Since when did she eat breakfast with them? She had always had it brought up to her in her room.

"Good morning my dear. How are you feeling?" Lena smiled and nodded her head. She had felt extremely good this morning. It was strange to say in the least.

"Very well and yourself?" The king chuckled in return and placed his hand on his daughter's.

"Couldn't feel better." He patted her hand and then returned his to rest on the arm of his chair. Lena did the same. After a couple minutes of conversation between her father and cousin, the food was placed out in front of them and they had begun to dish out their meals. Lena had chosen the pork and two poached eggs sided with fresh bread and a muffin. She didn't know what to eat first! It all looked so appetizing!

After taking a few bites of her muffin and finishing up her pork she started to work on her eggs. Surprisingly she was still hungry after eating her second egg so she started on her extra loaf of bread and washed it down with a cup of water.

"Did you disregard supper last night again?" Lena averted her eyes over to Briseis and swallowed the wad of bread in her mouth. She hesitated and nervously glanced at her father's curious face before returning her gaze to Briseis. She knew they wouldn't like her answer. They never did agree with her fighting skills, but Hector insisted. He wanted his little sister to be ready for anything.

"Yes. I—"You were in the gardens with your sword again, weren't you?" Briseis accused Lena and Lena quickly retaliated.

"Yes, but—"Lena." Lena glanced at her father and sighed as she looked at his stern expression. "You are safe here. You know this." Lena furrowed her brows and lowered her head in anguish. How could he say that? How could she ever be safe again after what happened to her? There was no way.

"Safe? Safe?!" She looked up at her father once more. "It wasn't safe then father. What changes that now?"

"We have progressed since then Lena. We are much stronger and aware now," Briseis added. Lena stood from her seat and placed both of her hands on the table in front of her. There was no convincing her. She knew it, why didn't they?

"Dear cousin, I will never be safe again. I have tried to accept it and so have my brothers. Why can't you?" Briseis rose from her seat as well and looked her cousin in the eye. She needed to hear this.

"Because I do not want my cousin to fear every aspect of life. I want you to become a mother. I want you to enjoy the feeling of something that I will never have. There is so much in life that you have yet to endure and you won't allow yourself to go through with it." Lena felt tears sting the back of her eyes and she strived to hold them back. She couldn't listen anymore. It was just all too clear and painful. Realization had just smacked her square in the face and she couldn't recover from it fast enough.

"Excuse me." She quickly turned and strode out of the dining hall and into the gardens. Briseis and King Priam watched her disappear from their sight and they both sighed in despair. Briseis sat back down in her chair and stared at the empty chair in front of her.

"I've wanted to get that off my chest for a while now and now that I have…" she glanced at her uncle. "…I feel like I had just made a big mistake." Briseis held back her own tears and lowered her head as she thought about what she had just said to her beloved cousin.

"Do not worry Briseis. She will find herself one day." He placed his hand on top of hers and she looked up at him in reply. "Give her time." Briseis nodded and averted her eyes to the empty doorway in which her cousin had just left through minutes ago. How could she get her to understand her? Is there even a way? Maybe her uncle was right. Time was all she needed. Even after ten years…right?

A/N: Ah! I'm sorry for such the long delay. It's been like six months already. Wow! Here it is…I didn't know much background info in the beginning so I waited until Troy came out in DVD so I picked one up and started writing again! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It took me forever to write. Anyways, thank you for sticking with me! Till next chapter…