After Troy

Chapter 20 – The Escort

The Trojans sat and stared silently at the Achaean boat they were tailing. A calm, hot day was upon them and while the sun bore down upon their backs, the water lapped eagerly, enticingly, at their boat.

Aeneas sighed, knowing the gods were ensuring their safety in this journey, but uneasy all the same. Hector, who stood by his side, was silent in contemplation.

"Odysseus." He said quietly, the breeze lifting the name from his mouth and carrying it across the water ahead.

"Gods or no," Aeneas stood and walked away from the boats edge, "He is taking far too long for my liking."

"It is an old friend of his." Hector told his young cousin. "I am certain they have much to discuss. He is supposed to be dead, after all."

"Yes, I'm certain you're correct." Aeneas balled his hands into fists bey his side, releasing a nervous tension. "But the sun sets soon, and the men are restless."

In truth it was Aeneas who was restless. He had never been one for travelling on water, and this journey was taking too long to reach its end. He shook his head and Hector, who had turned to observe the man, smiled and returned his gaze to the grand sails of the Achaean ship.

"The men will be glad for a rest." He assured Aeneas. "The seas are safer, now that the sirens are no more, and the weather looks fine. We can relax for a time." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, cringing at the salt-encrusted strands. "He will return as he left, quick and with no announcement."

Hector closed his eyes, thinking of his brother, again. 'Paris.' He sighed as he thought to himself. 'How I wish I could see you now.' A wave of sadness, loneliness, rushed over him. 'I miss you, Paris. I need you by my side.' Hector could almost feel his brother and he knew, had Paris been with him, how the younger man would have reached out his palm to grip Hector's jaw, a brotherly affection, he would have smiled, reassuring him that all was well in the world. "I promised I would protect you." He whispered, eyes closed. "I have failed you."

"You have never failed anyone." Hector felt a hand on his shoulder and a voice by his ear. "Least of all Paris. He would not have you think thus." Aeneas nudged Hector's shoulder with his own and smiled comfortingly and his most beloved cousin.

"I thank you, Aeneas." Hector attempted a smile. "And I was meaning to say..."

Hector was cut short, and turned abruptly on his heels to face the speaker who had spoken his name.

"Odysseus has offered us protection as far as Carthage, Africa." Achilles grinned, standing proud like a child who has mastered their first sword trick, or riding straight on a mighty steed.

"This is excellent." Hector smiled. "Many thanks, Achilles, and welcome back on board."

"Oh, I do not plan to stay long." Achilles smiled. "I only came to tell you that. I think I have a better understanding of my skills, now. I have another test which I have set myself. The Achaeans will guide you as far as Carthage, as I mentioned, and I shall return to you then." He smiled and bowed his head as he disappeared, again, from their sight.

"And he is gone again." Aeneas rolled his eyes incredulously. "Do we follow the Achaeans then?" He asked of Hector. "Do we trust that he has not mentioned your presence, or Andromache's, or mine, even?"

Hector shrugged. "This is your party to lead." He told Aeneas. "Troy is, after all, your protégé." He smiled and began to wander off. On seeing the utterly dismayed face of Aeneas, however, he paused. "If it were my choice," he paused, considering his words, "I would trust in the gods." He smiled and wandered off, below deck, to find his wife and child.

Aeneas, left to ponder Hector's meaning, let out an exasperated sound and rolled his eyes at his cousin as he descended the stairs. Aeneas turned quickly to glance at the ship ahead of them. "Trust in the gods." He repeated quietly. "I trust the gods are doing the correct thing, then." He turned to the skipper and raised his voice, pointing to the Achaean ship ahead.

"The Achaeans are providing an escort." He called, knowing how ludicrous it sounded to the men, all survivors of the 10 year war that had raged between the two nations. "We follow them to Carthage."

The skipper nodded curtly and wandered quickly amongst the men, distributing orders.

Aeneas looked back, again, at Odysseus' grand war ship. "I will trust the gods. May the do us no wrong, tonight."

A/N: Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!!! We are back on track (at least for this chapter.) Let's get straight into it, after this announcement: reply to your bloody emails! No idea what to write! mutters crazy pimping monkey butts! So, reviews (because I love 'em!) The. Interesting, eh? The. Well, The, I am pleased to respond to your most eloquently written review, thankyou x 4, and then I'm getting back to Achilles/Paris, all in good time! (or bad time, as is my wont!  ) and Hades fancying Paris, eh? Well, it's possible (latest saying) and I shall, indeed ponder it. After all, the Greek gods were sleeping with everyone! Zeus himself was all for the occasional guy in his godly bed! Wacky children! But I shall ponder, ponder ponder ponder! Ehehehehehe. And I do profusely apologise for my slackness. I am just waiting for the real holidays (shite, I finish altogether in 8 weeks. 8 weeks!) because I'm studying for exams and stuff at the moment. I do apologise, but I need a pretty high score to get into my writing course. I will try, however. Now, bradleigh! Ah, it's always good hearing from my regulars! I love regulars! Um, we owe the pleasure to Yana because she sent me a song that I needed for a school production, I was managing the sound production so I needed that song and I could find no one that had it. Meanwhile, I almost cried that night because my guitar was out of tune when I played the main song. Oh, god. tears welling! But it was all good in the end. And the power thing is entirely plagiarised! I owe nearly all my inspiration, as far as the immortality goes, to the brilliant and beloved Traci Harding. Oh, Traci, inspiration is your forte. One day, you will make your movie! And what a film it will be! Odysseus'll hang around for a while, too. Oh, I love him! And someone who agrees with me, Jamy! How are ya, mate? And, again, I apologise for the lack of email, I'm just lazy and busy, not a good combo! But we'll keep in touch via my AN's, and I'll start emailing after my exams, again. Glad I could help you relax! Breath deep, my friend, breath deep! X-shadowcat! You have returned (not that you actually went anywhere) yeh, about Achilles son, I found that out and I've decided to take it and run with it. I reckon I'll get Achilles to train him, because (contrary to what everyone else says) I've decided Neoptolemus will be cool, nice, admirable. But moving right along because I write too much... Lady Lenna, lady-like as always, Odysseus and Achilles are, indeed, the coolest cats on the planet! (although I don't much care for cats! Cucumbers, maybe...) Compass.... Um... compass... as in the navigational tool. Hehehe, actually, nice! Alrighty then, thank you indeed, oh, I do love nice reviews! And yes, they will extend to the underworld. Can we all guess where Achilles disappeared to? (Kid up the back yells: 'he went to get a good root!') and I do agree, Hector never deserved to be there! But he ain't goin' back! Also, I am glad that Hades makes you laugh. It actually made me laugh when I read that, and I'm laughing now, too! Such a great random sentence! "Hades makes me laugh." Heheheheh, literally laughing (I didn't eat much today, light headed, you see). And last, shortest, simplest, but not least! Goldensong, that was the most concise review I have ever read! Ehehehehehe. Alrighty, a couple of last-minute notes. Firstly, as I would dearly love to be a writer in my future (poor) years, I should dearly love it if you were to all tell me what needs to be done in my writing style. General notes. Also, if anyone wants a really fantastic fic, especially those who know Final Fantasy 7, read 'Burn Like the Sun' by Talya Firedancer (it's not , so look it up on google.) Jesus, I cried at the end! It was so beautiful, and well written, and.... Ah, words escape me! Even if you just want a fic to read, I can answer all questions about the basis, but it's all well-explained, and the best fic I think I have ever read! So bloody brilliant! Oh dear lord, I must stop now! And finally, to those who are quickly reading this: See 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' (French film) for me. So damn good! And 'Dog Soldiers', if you're up for a scare, screws with your mind! Lucy should vouch for me on both accounts. So bloody good, mate! And that is about all (long AN, but it's been a while!)

Story Count: 795 words

AN Count: 795 words!!!!!!!