After Troy

Chapter 25 – Forbidden Treasure

The noise swarmed around them as the Trojans and Achilles sat along the Queen's table. Queen Dido sat at the middle, commanding at her will the attention of all her people. To her left sat all the officials of the city and her closest friends. To her right sat Aeneas, with his ailing father whom he had chosen to bring. Beyond him sat Hector, Andromache, and finally Achilles who sat entertaining a swarm of women with all manner of food-related tricks and somewhat exaggerated tales of heroics.

"And faced with the Achaeans' escort, what did you do?" The Queen asked Aeneas, still enthralled by his tales.

"We trusted in the gods." Aeneas said with a smile. "After all, they have not led us astray yet."

Dido smiled, chewing slowly on some food. Each time she moved Aeneas was mesmerised by the sounds she carried with her. Beads in her hair and on her dress clacked, and the jewellery that bound her neck and arms clicked lightly, and the fabric that comprised her clothes rushed beautifully. And she smelled lovely, Aeneas reflected.

The conversations had carried on for most of the night, each person telling their respective tales, but it was Aeneas on whom Dido chose to focus nearly all her attention.

Andromache was laughing and smiling, utterly at ease with her people taken care of. Nothing could have made her happier at that moment, with the obvious exception of having Hector by her side, which she did.

As the evening wound down, guests began to leave. Achilles went first, shaking off his group of young women to stride out with a wink and a grin in their direction, inwardly wishing they were Paris. Naturally, they were still very attractive young women, but he missed what he shared with Paris, and somehow they didn't seem to make up for it.

Shortly thereafter Andromache and Hector departed, taking with them Aeneas' father, as he was clearly in want of rest. They left the table, Hector glancing back to see Aeneas and Dido still conversing animatedly.

"We may have an allegiance before we even have a city." Hector whispered, grinning for his cousin.

Dido and Aeneas sat and spoke about their respective travels and whatever else came until very late that evening, until all but the serving staff had disappeared. Dido interrupted the conversation only to invite Aeneas to her private rooms for a drink.

When they reached the Queen's chambers, Aeneas was a little taken aback at the simplicity of them. From their size he would not even assume she was queen of all this land, but perhaps a lady of sorts. She had clearly not given herself any further allowance than she would another, and for that Aeneas admired her.

They walked together out onto the balcony and stood quietly, looking out over the city.

"It's beautiful." Aeneas said.

"Indeed." Dido said quietly. Aeneas looked about, shocked at how close she was to him. Her eyes locked his and she smiled sensuously. Aeneas' breathing sped up slightly, and he felt frozen to the spot. As she moved forward he closed his eyes and prepared for the inevitable.

…Only to notice a significant change in the temperature. He opened his eyes and blinked them several times as he adjusted to the bright light everywhere.

"Aeneas." Said a low booming voice. "Lovely to see you again."

Aeneas tried desperately to see the wielder of the voice, but he already knew who it was before his eyes adjusted and focused. "Zeus." He said, bowing low. He looked up again and waited for a response, but the gods were silently watching him.

"Why…" He trailed off.

"Because you are not following your instructions." Zeus informed him.

"And you seem to be developing an attraction to the wrong woman." Aphrodite said.

"I- what?" Aeneas spluttered.

"The wrong woman: Queen Dido, you're not to stay there." Zeus told him, rather succinctly.

"But, I--" This time he was interrupted.

"You will not stay there!" Zeus said. "You set sail in the morning, and you continue your journey." And with that they banished him back to the where his people, and not Dido, were waiting for him.

"You don't think we were a little harsh on him?" Zeus said.

"You wouldn't know harsh if it took the form of a Minotaur and rammed you up the--" Hera began, but Aphrodite kindly silenced her with a hand over the mouth.

"He must understand." Aphrodite assured her father. "And besides, he will soon meet somebody much more… appropriate." She smiled. Zeus nodded and relaxed back in his godly throne, a rather self-satisfied smile on his face, ignoring the mutterings of his wife as she stormed away.

Tbc

Firstly: an apology. I am ever so bloody sorry that this took so long, and also sorry that it's a piece of shit. I, unfortunately, planned the story. And, whenever I plan anything, I don't end up writing it. My cousin thinks that some part of my brain says "ah, so that's what happens!" and doesn't feel the need to tell anybody else. Anyhoo, it might take a while, but I plan to keep going, and there are further twists and turns yet to come :)

Reviews (upholding a time-honoured tradition!): I'm starting from x-shadowcat's review for chapter 24, I think that makes sense. I'm picking out the important part (Harry/Draco) and I'll be writing it after the seventh book is out. At the moment, I am boycotting because of what she did to my beloved! (waves a Sirius/Remus flag, while crying distraughtly!) bradleigh, danke. I'm glad you liked the visuals, though I'm trying to phase them out a bit. It's bloody difficult! And I assure you, the queen's not evil, she's just… strong-willed. :) Will's Girl, thank you. Rapunzelstiltskin, agreed on the Achillesbi front, but they all were back then, it was not even blinked at. http/myweb. also, I don't even remember the first task, and yes, they will be a tad more challenging, at least on some level. Morningstar, thank you, and I have. :) Now, Elenor Edhelen, where to begin! I'll leave most of it, just to say I hope you enjoyed the update. And thank you for all the reviews! Then we have Andrea. I don't suppose I need to respond to it, since I don't think she'll be coming back, but you should all have a read of her review, and note how she seems to portray 'gay' people in her coughnarrowcough mind. I can appreciate that you don't want to read something about Achilles being gay, but you clearly have never heard of Patroclus, my dear, or read the Iliad. It's all there, you just have to open your eyes and see that real-life slashiness in all it's glory. ;)

Anyhoo, off I toddle.

I'll try again with the updating, but don't hold your breath, you may well find yourself unconscious or dead, and I don't want that, you're all too lovely to die on account of my fic!

Toodles.

cd