I remember looking out of the window when I was sixteen, only to see king Odysseus of Ithaca riding up to us with his companions. I smiled to myself as I plaited the back of my golden hair. He was very welcome around here as he was a friend of my father's. My real father of course is Mighty Zeus and my mother Leda, but when she seduced by the God she bore me and raised me with her royal husband Tyndareüs.

By this age I had had many lovers, many of which were powerful and respectable men, however none of then really took my fancy. I did indeed have many suitors then and I knew soon I would be forced to marry one. I didn't want to have to make that decision because I knew some of the men would hurt, beat or even kill each other for the right of me.

I ran from my chamber to meet Odysseus. He was a very attractive man and a perfect age for me. Twenty two next summer. But he is not a man that I would marry; I knew that my cousin Penelope liked him.

Penelope was flirtier than I could have ever imagined. When she was ten I assumed that she would never like a man, but she has had more lovers than me. Truly, I have had more invitations but don't take as many as Penelope. She never likes being alone, instead she runs in the fields with many men and surely she loved most of them. I say she loved them, but she never wanted to marry any. I was positive that Penelope would never marry.

"Odysseus!" I cried as I ran down the green leaf entwined steps. My blue dress billowed out behind me as I hugged him. he held me at arms length.

"You have grown!" he said to me. "Is she yet married Tyndareüs?" My father shook his head and Odysseus laughed.

"She shall be soon. No man can resist such beauty." He said as he looked into my eyes. I giggled foolishly as he turned away and began to engage in conversation with my father. I walked back to my chamber, smiling.

Dinner that night was pleasant as we were in the company of Odysseus. I remember my father turning to me.

"Helen," he said. "Do you wish to marry?" The question surprised me but I thought about it.

"There are some men who I like, yes. But whether I wish to marry them or not I do not know. Besides, father, if I were to choose the others would go mad with anger. Anger of rejection, jealousy."

My father and Odysseus nodded. The Ithacan King looked up.

"My lord, I suggest that we make each suitor take an oath, that he should not harm another man, or indeed Helen if he is not chosen." My father smiled.

"Yes, that is a good idea. What say you Helen?" I thought about it. Marriage seemed like an enjoyable idea to me as I had many lovely men willing to marry me.

"Agreed." I said.

"Have you anyone in mind my daughter?" Tyndareüs asked me.

I remembered a sweet man who had once loved me on the riverbank. He covered me in flowers, jewels and riches. But above all this he showered me in love. He was also a respectable man, the brother of Agamemnon of Mycenae Son of Atreus.

"Menelaus of Mycenae." I replied.

So my suitors made an oath, and I told then whom I wished to marry. Some grunted, some screamed when they found out that it was not them but flame haired Menelaus was delighted. He ran from the crowd and he picked me up and twirled me around and around. He smile shone and his face was so bright that it made me thrilled. I hugged him back, just as pleased as he was that we were to be married. Then he leaned forward and he kissed me, deep and passionate. It was the best kiss I have ever received because I knew that he really loved me. He knew that I also loved him because I chose him from hundreds of men. He knew that out of all of them I enjoyed his company most.

He held my hand and told me that he would make me the happiest woman alive, because I had already made him the happiest man. We agreed to get married as soon as possible, and so a date was set for one weeks time. We couldn't wait.

During the week that we waited Odysseus decided to stay for our wedding. But then he and Penelope met. She was a brunette of sixteen and she was a stunning girl. The pair fell instantly in love.

But Odysseus that he could never ask for her hand in marriage because he would also have to ask her loving father, Icarius, the king's brother. Icarius loved Penelope even more than my father (his brother) Tyndareüs loved me, and he would never let Odysseus take Penelope to Ithaca with him.

But my father, Tyndareüs remembered how Odysseus helped him to protect us from many powerful Princes who wanted to be my suitors, by making then swear and oath, and so he decided to help Odysseus.

He knew that Odysseus was a fantastic runner. He was known for how fast he was, and so using this information, Tyndareüs found out a way for his brother to let Penelope marry him.

He told Icarius that Penelope needed to be married soon, and she had no preference, so Icarius should say that the suitor to win a race should win her hand. That way Penelope would have a worthy husband. Icarius agreed, not realising that he needed to specify that only Spartans were allowed to enter so that Penelope would not be taken away.

So the contest was held and Penelope was very anxious. She prayed that Odysseus would win, and surely enough, he did!

Penelope was delighted and she hugged him when he won. Icarius walked up to his daughters husband to be and he suddenly gasped.

"Odysseus!" He cried. "What are you doing? You cannot marry my daughter. You live in Ithaca and I have already said no!"

Icarius decided that his daughter would go to the runner up, but Odysseus persisted.

"You said that the winner of this race would win your daughter! You didn't say where they needed to come from and so therefore if you don't let me and Penelope be married then you are breaking your word and the Gods will punish you!" Icarius knew that Odysseus was right and he was devastated. However, he told Penelope that she could marry Odysseus, so long as she stayed in Sparta. Penelope foolishly agreed but knew she would go back on her word.

Odysseus and Penelope agreed to be married on the same day as me and Menelaus. It was going to be a very special day as we all loved each other.

Not only that, but Menelaus was going to be the new king of Sparta!