The pale cream coloured tents where Hector, Andromache, Paris and Polyxena would sleep in soon caught their sight. The wind quickly carried them to their destination, seeing how exhausted the Princes and Princesses appeared after such a long ride to the camp.
Enormous trees that shot up into the sky surrounded the tents, only a little amount of light was allowed to pass through their thick and crowded leaves. There were four tents set up in between a small empty space. In the centre of these tents there was a fire already lit, its smoke drifted up into the clear blue sky, and a few logs surrounded it. The men who had arrived earlier that day were not to be seen, but Hector had seen them pass while he rode to the forest, they were returning to Troy.
When they arrived at their camp, Hector immediately jumped from his horse and allowed Helenus to drink from the stream by their tents. He helped Andromache from her horse, and then proceeded to help Polyxena.
Paris dismounted his horse, a strangely peaceful expression spread across his face. His eyes quickly gazed around the small camp and he smiled. He remembered coming to this forest as a child, not to this exact place, but a very similar area nonetheless. There were only a few, rare amount of times when Priam would take his two sons hunting, and those times were still stored within Paris's mind.
"How many days will we be here?" Paris asked, once he had led his horse to the stream.
"Three of four," replied Hector. He walked over to the crackling fire, where his brother now stood and warmed his stiff hands.
Andromache and Polyxena withdrew to their tents to change into more comfortable clothes, their legs were incredibly sore after the long ride. Polyxena was to sleep in her own tent, as was Paris. Andromache and Hector were to share. Hector was at first concerned that Polyxena was to sleep on her own; he had considered having Andromache share with her while he and Paris shared. However, when Hector told this idea to Polyxena, she refused to be treated like a child, and so his plan was destroyed.
"I think I'll go for a walk," Paris suddenly said. He looked out to a faded path leading away from the camp and needed to wake his legs after the long ride.
"Alright," said Hector, "but be back soon."
Paris nodded, smirking slightly at how his older brother still treated him like a child. He thought, as he walked down the path, that he was still a child and that he may never grow up. There were times when Paris wanted to be a strong warrior and times, more often than not, when he succumbed to the pleasure women gave him.
After walking at least a mile, or so he estimated, Paris stopped and sat down in front of a large tree with crisp, golden leaves. He leant his back against the tree and sighed happily. Slowly, somewhat unaware of his actions, he allowed his eyes to close.
A sweet laughter filled Paris's ears and he was suddenly roused from peaceful slumber. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust and when they did, they quickly widened. Tens of trees and shrubs blocked Paris's view, but through a tiny gap in between the mass of greenery, he could see a beautiful maiden dancing alone. She danced magnificently and quietly hummed to herself as she danced in a small area not crowded with trees or bushes.
Paris's eyes searched the girl's face; she was so perfect with a crown of flowers around her head, and her light brown hair gracefully falling down her slender shoulders. He crept nearer to her, hiding himself behind a group of large shrubs, and saw her glistening green eyes sparkle as they caught the sun. Paris saw that her feet were bare and wondered how she could ever walk in such a forest with no sandals to protect her feet.
Suddenly, those light green eyes that captivated Paris, turned his way. A look of shock and fear flashed across her lightly tanned face. She turned to run, but Paris hastily scrambled to his feet and called out to her:
"I mean you no harm! I was merely resting on a tree behind me; I do not wish to frighten you."
The girl turned and looked at Paris, her eyes studied his face carefully and she turned pale for a moment, but quickly retained her colour. She knew the man before her; she knew he was Prince Paris of Troy. As a child she had learned the art of prophecy, she was well renowned from people who knew and heard of her, to be a maiden of wisdom and understanding.
"I am Paris," he said, noticing the look of fear still held within the girl's eyes.
The girl smiled, she was pleased to see that Paris did not use his title with her. "I am Oenone, daughter of the river God Cebren."
"You dance wonderfully," said Paris, smiling broadly.
"Thank you," replied Oenone, blushing slightly. She then looked away into the trees behind her, before turning to look at Paris once more. "I must go now."
"Can … can I see you again?" stuttered Paris, amazed that he was lost for words.
Oenone's cheeks reddened again. Despite knowing that her heart would be broken if she succumbed to Paris's wishes, she spoke softly: "If you wish to see me again, them come here again tomorrow." She then quickly fled into the trees behind her, leaving Paris ecstatic with the idea of meeting her again.
-----
The first day soon passed and Paris returned to camp, wearing a gleeful expression which Hector noticed he usually wore after being with a woman. Hector didn't question his brother on his obvious happiness, although he observed him carefully.
On the first night in camp Andromache cuddled up next to her husband in their bed, in the privacy of their own tent. She rested her head on his chest and smiled as her head rose up and down as he breathed in and out.
"Paris looked oddly cheerful this afternoon," said Andromache.
"I noticed," said Hector, deep in thought. After a moment or two he chose to speak again: "Has he said anything to you?"
"Me?" Andromache said. "Why would he talk to me?"
"You're his friend," answered Hector, and smiled. He was glad Andromache and Paris were close friends and he was never suspicious of their friendship, he knew Paris would never try and win Andromache's heart, and that she would never betray him. "I thought he might have spoken to you as to why he was so happy."
Andromache laughed quietly. "I suppose we do not see Paris happy enough, if we are now conversing over his unusually high spirits."
Hector nodded. He kissed his wife's head, breathing in her sweet scent that always happily astounded him. Then he and Andromache fell into the land of dreamers.
----
After many hours of continuous turning in his bed, Paris finally saw sunlight beam through the thin material of his tent. He hastily dressed and hurried from his tent, intending to go where Oenone had been the day before. He did not know when Oenone would be in the place she was before, so he planned to stay there all day in hopes of meeting her again.
As Paris tied up the entrance to his tent, he heard a few light footsteps behind him. He sighed, thinking it to be Polyxena, but as he turned around, he was astounded to see it was Hector.
"Are you going somewhere?" asked Hector, his face wore no expression, but his eyes searched within his brothers. He could always see if Paris was lying to him, he always knew.
"I was about to take a stroll through the forest," mumbled Paris, somewhat relieved that he wasn't completely lying, and hoped that neither his face nor eyes betrayed him.
"I'll come with you," said Hector, and smiled weakly.
"Err … no," Paris stuttered and his eyes filled with awkwardness, he paused for a moment while he thought of how to persuade his brother to remain in the camp, "I'd rather go alone … I find the walk peaceful, and you would only disturb me. And Andromache and Polyxena, you can't leave them alone, it could be dangerous."
Hector inhaled deeply, he knew his brother was right in saying it would be dangerous for his wife and sister to be alone, but he was still skeptical of his brother's desire to walk through the forest. "You're right, I'll remain here." He was silent for a minute of two and rubbed his chin before speaking in a low whisper. "Please Paris, don't cause any trouble."
"Trouble?" cried Paris and attempted to laugh but couldn't. He hated the cold stare his brother gave him and felt guilt thrash against the walls of his stomach.
Saying nothing, Hector walked away and stepped into his own tent.
Paris looked down to the ground and sighed heavily. There was no reason, he thought, for Hector to overreact over a simple matter as walking in the woods, but Hector knew him better than anyone else.
After a moment of deep thought, Paris raised his head slowly and walked into the forest, taking the same path he had the day before. He carefully tried to retrace his steps, recognizing different flowers and trees that he had seen on his previous walk in this direction. It took longer than he had hoped, but Paris eventually found the tree he had rested on the previous day. He walked through the shrubbery and beamed widely when he saw Oenone was there.
Oenone appeared exactly how she had looked to Paris on their first meeting, and her hair blew gently with the soft wind breaking through her hair as she sat on the grass.
"I didn't think you'd come," said Oenone, her voice low and each word was spoken carefully. She looked up to Paris and smiled weakly. "I'm glad you did come."
Paris smiled and sat down beside Oenone. It was difficult to describe how he felt when he was near her; he felt his skin tingle and the hairs on his arms spring up and wave towards her. His heart fluttered and began to beat quickly every time she glanced at him, as did hers when he dared to look at her. However silly it seemed, Paris felt a strong attachment grow between him and Oenone. He wished to know everything about her, usually he didn't care about women or maidens he was attracted to … but Oenone … she was different to him.
For hours they spoke together, recalling to each other every memory that they had savored within their hearts, speaking of both good and bad times they had passed through. Usually, Paris was cautious while speaking of things close to his heart, but with Oenone he felt utterly relaxed and at peace to speak of anything that floated through his untroubled mind.
Night had fallen by the time Paris returned to the camp, he didn't wish to leave Oenone, but knew Hector would worry if he didn't return – he had already spent many more hours than expected away from the camp.
----
Andromache and Hector stood in the stream by their tents. Both of their robes were thoroughly soaked, revealing their tanned skin underneath, but night had fell and thus showed little of their naked bodies beneath. They threw water at each other, both laughing loudly.
Wishing to refresh themselves in the stream, Andromache and Hector soon thought of competing in throwing water at each other, or attempting to. They also tried to push the other in the water, and cheered loudly when they did, although it was only Andromache who had succeeded in this so far.
"Hector!" Andromache laughed loudly as her husband took her into his arms and kissed her passionately. She wrapped her arms around his slippery neck, although she opened her eyes for a second while he kissed her and instantly realised his motive.
Laughing as happily as Andromache, Hector tried to push his wife into the water, he thought to divert her attention while kissing her before pushing her down, like she had done only moments before.
Polyxena sat on the edge of the stream and laughed with her brother and sister-in-law. She didn't wish to join them and intrude upon their time together; she knew how special each moment was when spent with a person you loved. She couldn't have thought of a better woman to be with Hector, she had brought life into him.
Paris stood leaning on a thin tree bare with leaves. He watched as Andromache and Hector tried to push each other into the water, and smiled sadly. He envied them both, he envied the bond they shared, and he envied the love they had.
"Yes!" cheered Hector and threw his arms into the air when he finally succeeded in pushing his wife into the stream. He immediately felt guilty at seeing her sitting on a bed of rocks and lifted her to his feet, even though she had laughed merrily at being defeated.
"I love you," whispered Andromache and kissed her husband. She loved every drop of blood that swam through Hector's veins. She looked to her husband's abdomen and saw his toned muscles wishing to break through from the confinement of the robe; she smirked cheekily and led her husband to their tent.
Paris smiled when he heard muffled giggles coming from Andromache and Hector's tent. They had only greeted him briefly before racing to their tent, something Paris was pleased about. He didn't wish to hear his brother's questions on why he had returned so late to camp and where he had spent the day.
Polyxena stood up from her place by the stream; she brushed away a few pieces of grass from her robe and began to walk to her tent. She smiled when she saw Paris about to enter his own tent and quickly walked up to him.
"Where have you been?" she asked. "Hector was worried; he nearly went to look for you."
"I lost track of time," said Paris, and lowered his head slightly as he felt his cheeks begin to burn.
Polyxena stared at her brother and laughed quietly when she released what he was hiding. "You've been with a woman!"
"I've not!" cried Paris, and led Polyxena away from the tents and over to the stream.
"Don't lie to me Paris," warned Polyxena, "I'm your sister; I know when you're lying."
Paris didn't reply for a few minutes, he thought over the best way to reply to his dear sister. He didn't wish to anger her with his lies and trusted her to reveal the truth. "I have been with a woman."
"I knew it!" said Polyxena, smiling.
"I have feelings for this woman," said Paris, speaking very quietly, "and I know no one would believe that I … Paris the charmer of women, could have feel for a woman as I do now. If Hector, or anyone else for that matter, knew of this matter now then they would disbelieve me, think I was driven by lust for a beautiful maiden."
"Do you feel more than lust?" whispered Polyxena, her tone as quiet and precise as her brothers had been.
"I've been under the power of lust before," answered Paris, "but I've never been under the power of love."
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A/N: This chapter is longer than usual but I need to get a lot of things into the Hunting Trip chapters. Sorry that this chapter focused a lot on Paris, it won't usually. I've brought Oenone into this, she was a nymph Paris met and fell in love with while on Mount Ida, but I've changed it to him meeting her while on this hunting trip. He will still meet Helen etc, but he meets Oenone first.
Aviella-Avuka-A-Fallen-Angel – Thank you for the very nice compliment, and thank you for reviewing!
Queen Arwen – Thank you for the review and I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! I'd love to have Hector imprisoned, but he's yours so I'll let you do that!!
Donna Lynn – I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter, thank you and thank you for the review!
Eleninya – Hector is one of my favourite Greek heroes too! You are right that they both fell in love etc. too quickly. Hector will need Andromache, he needs her now but doesn't realise it yet, but I'm thinking of ways to make him know it! :) Thank you for the review!
Lee – Thank you for the lovely compliment, I'm really glad you like the story. And thank you for reviewing!
Kitera-n-Lil – Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the idea of a hunting trip and liked the chapter. Thank you for the review!