16)
'What's that?' Briseis asked, although she knew Helen and Andromache wouldn't know either. The foreign object was just too unfamiliar.
'It resembles an animal,' Andromache noted.
Helen turned away from the window. 'The question is: who built it and why?'
'A sacrifice?' Briseis guessed.
'Maybe.' Restlessly, Helen came back to them again. 'It is getting late. Give me the knife.'
Briseis handed over the weapon to Helen. Earlier today they had already decided she should be the one to use the dagger. This because it was not certain Briseis would get close to someone important, and Andromache just wouldn't be able to do it. Hector's wife had been the good princess all her life, she had never even considered touching a weapon. Helen was no experienced knife users either, but for some reason she was not really scared by the thought. Briseis hoped this would stay this way, also if she had to face Menelaus.
'I think someone is coming,' Andromache whispered.
The three of them settled, trying to look completely peaceful and innocent. They stared at the door, which was just opened after what seemed like an eternity. Some soldiers came in.
'Get up ladies,' came the command. 'You are wished for.'
All of them? That was not good, because this meant there would be more men. And overpowering numerous men would be a very difficult task.
'Hector? Achilles?'
Hector recognized Odysseus' voice, even though he was whispering. 'Yes?'
'It is safe now, so get out quickly.'
'Do it,' Hector ordered. He heard noises, the men were working on the trap-door.
'Clear,' someone whispered, and then he heard someone hit the ground. More followed one at the time, and eventually they had all left the wooden horse in order. Hector was glad he now stood in his beloved city, and he assumed his men felt the same way.
'Agamemnon and Menelaus are in the throne room, together with some of the other kings and the women,' Odysseus briefed them.
Achilles growled. Hector wondered why, his wife was not in there.
'You mean Helen?' Paris asked worried. Hector couldn't blame his brother, he was sick with worry too.
'Yes,' Odysseus answered. 'With Andromache and Briseis. And…,' Odysseus paused, seemingly afraid to tell them something. 'You better hurry.'
Hector understood what the king meant. 'You all know what to do,' he told his men, who were gathered around him. 'So let's do it. For Troy.'
'The light at the Apollonian gate is put out,' one of the Trojans informed him. Aeneas looked at saw the soldier had been right. The extinguished fire meant Hector's men had taken the gate. If everything went according to plan, more gates would follow soon.
'Go!'
Several groups of men were already halfway to the gate. Now they slipped through the Greek lines unnoticed. They would quickly conquer the city, and capture or kill the Greek kings inside. The war would be over without major bloodshed.
'They're moving.'
Patroclus nodded. He and the Myrmidon lieutenant were on a ridge, watching the progress of the Trojans. If everything went according to plan, the Myrmidons would not fight. But if many Greeks would try to flee, they would have a busy night because their job was to keep the Greeks away from the ships.
The Myrmidon soldiers did not yet know about their change of loyalty. Achilles had filled in the lieutenant and had given his orders. The men would listen to the second-in-command and Patroclus, neither of them had doubted this. Now it was time to tell them.
'It's happening,' Patroclus spoke. 'Let's wake the men.'
Andromache was sitting quietly next to Briseis, trying not to draw any attention. Menelaus had already claimed his (ex-)wife, who sat seemingly unworried next to him. But Andromache saw Helen looking around cautiously, waiting for the right moment to strike. Andromache wondered if this moment would come at all with all these Greeks around. The throne room was just too crowded.
Suddenly she heard a lot of noise, and then it was total chaos. Armed men had stormed in and surrounded everyone. Andromache watched horrified as the soldiers began killing. But then her heart beat faster when she noticed him.
Hector.
Hector was relieved when he finally saw his wife, seemingly unharmed. She was staring at him, so he gave her a quick smile to reassure her. Then he focused on the enemy again, and he did not like what he was seeing. The guards had been taken care of, but the kings were still dangerous. Menelaus had taken Helen in a tight grip, while his brother Agamemnon was making his way to Andromache and Briseis. They were in a standoff now.
'Hector!' Agamemnon yelled furiously. 'Put down your sword or your wife will die!'
Bastard! Instead of fighting he took women as hostages. The Mycenaean had no honor. 'You coward!' Hector exclaimed helplessly. He had no choice but to comply with Agamemnon's wishes.
'Don't do it Hector,' he heard someone object. It was Achilles. The Myrmidon, Paris and some of the men had opened the gates first, but had now also arrived at the palace.
Agamemnon almost seemed to explode. 'Achilles! You traitor! You…'
Achilles was not impressed though, with his sword ready he closed in on the man he had served only a few days earlier.
Threatened, Agamemnon pulled Andromache closer so she could really serve as his shield. Briseis now had the chance to slip away, which to Hector's relief she did. Crying frantically she fled to Achilles and got hold of his arm. Helplessly because he couldn't fight this way Achilles looked at him, meanwhile wrapping his arm around Briseis. Hector watched how Achilles gently tried to calm down his frightened cousin, surprised Achilles was the kind of man to do this.
Suddenly he heard a loud scream. It was Menelaus. His stomach was bleeding, a knife stuck in it. Hector first looked at Paris, but he seemed just as surprised as anyone so he was not responsible. But when Menelaus tried to get up, Paris stepped forward and stuck his weapon right through the Spartan king.
Agamemnon yelled in anger for his brother's death. All of a sudden Hector realized this was his chance, it might even be the only one he would get. While Agamemnon was still watching Menelaus, Hector rushed forward. Intuitively Agamemnon turned back, but he wouldn't be able to stop Hector. Furiously he lodged his sword right into Agamemnon's throat. The blood came out, streaming right over Andromache who screamed in horror. Hector realized just in time his wife was about to faint, he succeeded in catching her before she fell to the floor.
Odysseus watched the Greek army from the city wall. His own men, those of Ithaca, were well grouped and just waited for what was about to come. The Mycenaean and Spartan soldiers were not about to wait though. Their officers were regrouping them, evidently to prepare them for battle. This was not good, because the Trojans were still vastly outnumbered. Somebody had to tell them the war was over.
Odysseus rushed towards the palace, hoping Hector had conquered it already. It was, and Agamemnon and Menelaus were both death. Hector was totally focused on his wife, who was on the floor. Odysseus hated to disturb him, but it was really necessary.
'Is she alright?' Odysseus inquired.
The Trojan Prince looked up and nodded. 'She fainted.'
'You have to go to the wall to proclaim victory,' Odysseus told him. 'Because the Greeks didn't get the message yet and are regrouping.'
'We'll take care of Andromache,' Helen offered. Again she was surprisingly calm. Briseis' red eyes showed she had cried, but now she appeared to be alright.
Hector reluctantly let go of his wife and left her in the capable hands of Helen and Briseis. 'Achilles, Odysseus, Paris, please join me.'
Hector showed he was a noble man and would be a worthy ruler. Certainly compared to Agamemnon, who would have kept this moment of glory all to himself. 'I'm honored.'
