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Chapter 6 - Homecoming

Hector slowly opened the door to his mother's parlour and stepped in. Two pairs of eyes turned towards him immediately. The king of Troy and his queen stopped their conversation and appraised their eldest son. He had been able to wash himself and change his clothes, but he still somehow felt dirty.

He tried to keep his face flat as he greeted his parents. "Father," he said and bowed slightly. "Mother." He nodded at her.

Priam had stood up from the sofa he had been sitting in with his arms crossed over his chest. As always, his eyes were piercing when he watched his firstborn. "It is good to see you back safe, my son," he said.

Hector nodded. "I couldn't agree with you more, father. I have rarely had more reason to be thankful that I am back within these walls again." He silenced and smiled lightly. "I met Briseis on my way here. She seemed very delighted to see me too."

"I am not surprised," Priam said. "The poor child has been worried sick for your sake."

His wife, Queen Hecuba had remained seated, slightly hidden behind her husband. As always, she kept to the background and let her husband speak for her. But even if she was quiet, no one could doubt her strength and her sharp mind. Now, she spoke up. "You look weary, Hector. Won't you sit down?"

Grateful for his mother's thoughtfulness, Hector sank down in an armchair. Priam remained standing. "General Glaucus returned just a few moments ago with his men. He went to that house you described."

"And...?"

"He found a few unconscious men in the main room, like you said. But apparently, some of them had recovered and fled. They could not be found."

"What about Nikos?" Hector asked anxiously.

Priam shook his head. "There was no one in the cellars."

"Damn it," Hector snarled. Priam looked at him with disapproval and he quickly apologized to his mother. He knew that he needed to keep his tongue under control, but to learn that Nikos had gotten away was a severe blow. "I'll order the city watch to look for him," he muttered.

A glance was exchanged between his parents. They often conversed wordlessly and you could never be certain if you were interrupting them when you raised your voice. Priam cleared his throat. "Is it true what Glaucus told me? That these men placed you in irons and whipped you?"

Hector sighed and rolled his sleeves up to display the red marks on his wrists. "Yes it's true." His mother pulled her breath and Priam's eyes became dark. "They wanted gold... a ransom for my life." He couldn't bring himself to tell them about Nikos' plans to cut off his hand.

"This is an outrage," Priam said with a hard edge in his usually calm tone of voice. "These men will be punished and their punishment shall fit their crime." Then he frowned and added. "Glaucus tells me that there was some girl involved too. He says that she tricked you by putting drugs in your wine. But no woman was found in the house either."

"That girl was the one who brought me here," Hector explained. "She helped me escape."

"And how much gold did you promise her?"

Hector sighed in annoyance. "None."

Priam raised his eyebrows. "She was these men's accomplice and you think she saved you out of the kindness of her heart?"

"I don't care why she saved me. What I care about is that she did."

"And you trust her?"

"Tonight I had little choice but to trust her and she never failed me. She risked her own life to take me to safety and for that I owe her my gratitude."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. "Well, perhaps we should ask herself," Priam said dryly and nodded at the guards to open the door. Hector looked surprised and he added: "I told Glaucus to send your rescuer to me so that I would have a chance to thank her."

The door was opened and Lena stepped in. Hector felt sorry for her. The great hall made her look smaller than ever and her eyes were wide with fear. But even so, she made an effort to look composed. "Your graces." She greeted the king and queen of Troy and bowed so deeply that her forehead almost touched the floor. "My lord," she mumbled in Hector's direction, somewhat embarrassed.

Priam watched her flatly. "Lena, was that your name?" She nodded. "Well, I have heard that you were the one who saved my son from his captivity? Why did you do this?"

Lena glanced unsurely at Hector, but answered sincerely. "Because it was because of me that he ended up in that situation in the first place, your grace."

Priam nodded. "And what sort of reward do you expect?"

Hector couldn't help feeling irritated with his father for his insensitive way of addressing her. However, Lena didn't seem discouraged. "The prince's gratitude is all the reward I want, your grace," she answered and blushed as she realized that her words could be misinterpreted.

"Well, for what it's worth, you have my thanks as well," Priam said. He had apparently decided to grant her his trust, although reluctantly. He was about to continue when his wife interrupted him gracefully.

"Of course my husband realizes that no words will be enough to remedy what you have done for our son," she said amiably. "But perhaps a place in my service could make up for something at least."

"Your service, your grace?" Lena echoed.

"Certainly. I have always room for intelligent and quick-thinking women among my ladies," Hecuba smiled. She appraised the girl. "How old are you?"

Lena stared at the queen in wonder. The thought becoming one of the queen's ladies in waiting almost seemed to overwhelm her. Finally she managed to answer. "I am twenty, your grace."

"A most excellent age. Then perhaps we should find you a more suitable clothing..." Not waiting for an answer, she pulled Lena with her towards the exit. In a daze, Lena glanced at Hector before she left.

Hector smiled back. He was a little shocked by his mother's initiative himself and he really didn't know what to say when the women disappeared through the door. Then he turned back to his father, who was watching him closely.

"Father, may I be excused? I am feeling quite tired and..."

"You have lain with that girl," Priam said. His tone was flat, without a hint of accusation.

It wasn't a question. "Yes," Hector admitted. He was still too tired to feel any guilt, but he expected some sharp words from his father.

But Priam was silent. Then he sighed and said gently. "Go to bed, my son. You need your rest."

But it wasn't so easy to fall asleep as Hector had imagined. Despite himself, he became standing in front of the window, looking out into the night over the city. He knew that he should feel relieve to be back as a free man. But how free was he really?

When he had been a captive, he had only had survival in his mind. When he had been fighting the men, his only thought had been how he was going to cut them down before they cut him. Life was simple when you were in danger.

But now he was back in the castle and he was once again the crown prince of Troy. The heavy burdens were back on his shoulders again. Once again, he was Priam's eldest son; the man who had Troy's future in his hands. There were times when he wished that he had been born a common man, a warrior like anyone else in Troy. Never seriously, but...

The door opened silently behind him. He knew who it was even with his back against her. He knew even before he heard her low voice. "My lord?"

Hector slowly turned to face her. He watched her silently. There was no question that his mother's efforts had been successful. She was dressed in a deep green dress with golden laces sparkling around her neck and wrists. Her hair had been washed and pulled back from her face by a green diadem of silk, but it fell down over her shoulders in shining black ringlets. More than ever, he thought she resembled a lady of noble birth more than a simple girl from the countryside.

She seemed to be aware of the look in his eyes and smiled modestly. "The queen is an amazing woman, my lord. I admitted that I don't know the first thing about arranging a noble lady's hair and clothes, so she offered me to be the companion of your little cousin instead. Briseis, is it?"

Hector nodded but said nothing. Her smile faded. "My lord, if you don't want me to stay in the castle, I won't. I have no wish to embarrass you with my presence. I could speak to the queen directly if you like."

He sighed. "No, Lena, that's not what I was thinking. I just don't..." He stopped. Her eyes were full of affection and it made him uncomfortable. He had needed her the night before, but he was not infatuated with her. At least notthe wayshe was with him. "I am afraid that if you stay here, I will end up hurting you. I... I am betrothed."

She nodded. "Yes, I remember that."

"In a few weeks, a princess from Thebe will arrive. She is to be my bride."

She looked at the ground for a moment before raising her eyes to him again. "I know, my lord. I am in no position to demand anything from you. All I want... is what you gave me last night."

He looked at her closely. Her eyes were open and honest. She was neither as seductive nor as aware of her own allure as many other women Hector had been in contact with, but her straightforwardness increased his attraction. Still, he felt uncertain of his feelings. After what she had done for him, she deserved better than being used.

"I don't know if you can understand," he said gently. "I mean, after what happened between you and Nikos..."

Lena shook her head firmly. "I could never think of you in the same way as him, my lord. You are so different. So gentle, so sweet..."

"Sweet?" Hector couldn't help laughing. "I don't think anyone has ever called me sweet before."

She blushed, but continued bravely. "Well, you are. I know you are not a man who likes to let his feelings shine through, but I think I saw you for what you truly are last night. Not just your body or your appearance, but what's in here." She touched her heart. "I saw no cruelty there, like I did in him."

"I am a warrior."

"You are," she agreed. "But not a killer."

"I kill." His words were no more than a whisper.

"Only when you have to. When I was with you I felt... safe." She shrugged. "That's a rare gift, my lord.

"You made me feel safe too," Hector admitted and moved closer to her. "But it was more than that to you, wasn't it?" She nodded. "And you still want me?" Once again, she nodded. Carefully, he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Doesn't it matter to you that I can't give you any promises?"

"No, my lord."

A smile was spread across Hector's features. "There is just one thing I must ask you. Will you please stop calling me "my lord" all the time? My name is Hector."

Lena's eyes grew wide. "I couldn't address you like that, my lord!"

"Why not?" he asked her teasingly. "That will not bring down a curse over your head."

"I know that, but the queen and..."

"Oh," Hector shrugged. "You can call me something more reverent with them if you like, just not when we are alone. That would drive me out of my mind. You don't want that, do you?"

She smiled despite herself. Then she raised her arms and placed them around his neck. "As you wish... Hector."

He lowered his head and kissed her, gently at first, then fiercely and more passionately. She lifted her hands to his head, wrapping his soft brown curls around her fingers and caressing his scalp. Once again, he could feel all thoughts of the princess from Thebe, his father and his responsibilities vanishing from his mind.

He wrapped his arms around her small waist and lifted her from the floor. He carried her to his bed where he laid her down.

Much later, they rested together, peacefully relaxed. Hector lifted himself up on one of his elbows. "Lena, I don't know," he started as he watched her in slight amazement. "It is ridiculous... But sometimes you seem so familiar to me, like I have met you somewhere before. Why is that, do you think?"

Then she just smiled and brought his mouth to hers again.