CHAPTER TWO- For Sparta!

Two dreams, one fate. They never knew that they had the power to destroy. They were simply mortals, after all. Or so they thought. What if Achilles chose to live a short, glorious life giving up war? What if Paris figured out his dream early on? Would his decisions have been different? Everything could have been different, if only they had the will to fight their weaknesses…

ACHILLES

Dear Diary,

I awoke to the sound of my mother's voice still ringing in my ears, flowing and rich and warm. If you leave for Troy, you will not return… Your fate lies with your doom, and so is your glory. You were born to be this way, Achilles. I knew. And now you have to know.

Could it be? My mother visiting me in my dreams? For days I prayed for her counsel, and she has come.

When Zeus found out that our potential child would be greater than he, he made Peleus my groom. You are half god and half mortal, the greatest among men. You are not fully a god. On the earth you shall stay, your powers from the heavens…

Ah, yes, my mother rambling on and on about my greatness. I've had enough already. They need me to fight in this war and I have accepted. What was I to do, rejecting an invitation of sport like that? They need me. It would be disrespectful for a man like me, Achilles, to not agree to such humble offers.

One thousand ships. I am sailing on one of them. Each ship is full of soldiers of Greek tribes all over the country, including my Myrmidons.

That'll be enough to win. We will win. I can feel it. I haven't lost a battle before, ever. I am not letting a silly curse get in the way of my victories. Hear me, mother.

"What are you pondering, Achilles?" Odysseus was suddenly there, watching me think.

"Nothing. I had a dream last night. It was nothing."

"It doesn't seem like nothing, my friend. Go on, spit it out; there's no harm in seeking counsel when you need it."

Alas, Odysseus has read my mind.

"Am I doing the right thing, coming with you to Troy?"
"It was your decision and you know it."

"Are we there yet?"
"Patience, Achilles; patience. Perhaps this war will tame you a bit, I hope."

PARIS

Dear Diary,

They tell me that I am to keep away from fire as much as I can. It isn't normal for a young man to be feeling this way. I obsess over fire too much. It is pitiful, yet true.

Hector invites me on a journey to Sparta to bolster my spirits. Good brother is he who always knows how to make his little brother feel better. Good brother is he who loves the younger one. It was Hector who always got the love, I who always got the blame. Hector was perfect; I, the mere Paris who couldn't resist fire and who was incapable of weaponry. Hector has been happy to teach me, but it is hopeless.

Today we leave for Sparta. I am so excited! Perhaps the trip will make me forget the dream. I will tell Hector soon.

My dream was horrible. I woke up sweating like a pig. I saw fire burning. A baby being left on a mountain cliff, probably to die. The baby was rescued by a bear, and the baby was taken by a herdsman who raised him.

What does this mean? It haunts me, biting and gnawing at my mind. Damn the fire, damn it!