A few days after the arrival of Prince Hector and Paris, Phoebus Apollo raced his chariot across the skies and carried darkness behind him. Helen lay in her bed and waited for sleep to consume her.
Menelaus had asked for her that night, wishing to spend the night with her, and Helen had refused to go by complaining of a severe headache. Helen had never refused Menelaus before, not because she feared him, but because she had no reason to – it was her duty as his wife, or so she was told. But now a feeling had erupted within Helen that pained her terribly.
The pain was all of the emotions that had come surging from within her heart once she had first laid her perfect eyes upon Paris. Her heart and mind were in conflict with one another, her mind being sensible by not wishing to see Paris again, while her heart desired the lips of him to caress her own. Helen knew that her feelings for Paris were not childish, they were real.
Many years ago, when Agamemnon came to marry her sister Clytemnestra, Helen had dreamt of falling in love with a man she would love more than anything or anyone else in the world, and that he would love her in return. Still being a child at the time, Helen was adamant to marry this man even though she had never seen his face in her dream. Helen soon forgot that dream, and only remembered it now. She knew Paris was that man, the Gods had sent him to her.
Hector rose early the next morning, he wished to speak with Paris before the morning meal and wished to do so privately. As he stepped into Paris's chamber, expecting to wake Paris up from his slumber, Hector was surprised to see his brother awake and sitting at the end of his bed.
Paris looked deathly pale and his hands shook slightly. He slowly turned his head to look at Hector and stood to his feet. "I was going to come and tell you Hector -,"
"I need to talk to you," interrupted Hector, needing to speak first while the words of what he had planned to say still remained fresh within his mind.
Paris raised his eyes to stare at Hector, wondering whether Hector already knew what he had heard. "Very well."
"Is there something between you and Queen Helen?"
Paris's eyes narrowed in confusion for a second before he nodded slowly, unaware that he had allowed himself to nod until he saw Hector's face.
"Paris!" snarled Hector, rage spreading across his eyes. "Paris you have no idea what Menelaus will do if he finds out! He will kill you, you stupid fool!" Hector marched over to Paris and grasped his arms tightly. "He will kill you, perhaps even me too, and then there will be no peace treaty and our mother and father will be without sons … Andromache … Andromache, she'll be without me! How could you Paris, this could destroy everything!" Hector released his hands from Paris and stepped away from him. He held a hand to his head, desperately thinking of what to do.
"The only fool here is you!" Paris spat. "Do you honestly believe Menelaus wished to unite with Troy? Menelaus asked us here so he could get information about Troy. Menelaus and Agamemnon want Troy!"
"What?" Hector gasped.
"There is no peace treaty!" cried Paris. "I was going to tell you, I was coming to tell you that I heard Menelaus speaking with his council this morning." He stepped nearer to Hector and looked into his eyes desperately. "I swear Hector; I swear on my life that I speak the truth." He added after a brief pause.
"No," whispered Hector, "no, this can't be." He sat down on Paris's bed and was silent for a few moments, before standing up once again. "We need to leave at once."
"What about Menelaus?" Paris asked. He looked to his brother for instruction, the brother that had always guided him out of trouble and protected him.
"We can't allow Menelaus to know that we are aware of his plan," Hector answered, suddenly adopting the calm voice he used in battle. "I will tell him an envoy has come to us from our father for our swift return home. We can leave as soon as possible without rousing the suspicion of Menelaus."
"What if Menelaus does not allow us to leave, what if he -," Paris said, his voice almost inaudible.
"Menelaus will not kill us unless he learns that we know of his plan," interjected Hector, "he has no reason to think we know, and that is how it must stay. If Menelaus did attack us … then he knows father will send the army, which is not what he wants at this time. We are safe … for now at least."
Both were silent while Hector thought furiously on a plan to leave Sparta and return to Troy as soon as possible.
"Perhaps I should stay as planned," said Hector, speaking slowly as his mind worked, "it would attract less attention, and therefore you could sail to Troy today. I could follow shortly."
"I can't leave without you!" cried Paris. "What is Menelaus what if he ki … hurts you?" He had not wished to 'what if he kills you?'
Hector smiled weakly, trying to reassure Paris. "Menelaus has no reason to. It would be wiser for you to return home today, you're not important to Menelaus – as long as he remains ignorant of you and …,"
"Helen," breathed Paris. The thought of leaving her now sunk into his heart, he had not thought of it since they had arrived. "You should leave Hector," he added after a short pause, "leave today."
"No Paris!" Hector said sternly.
"Hector, if Menelaus learns of Helen and me when I'm gone," said Paris, "he'll kill you out of rage. Leave for Troy today, tell Menelaus that …," he thought for a moment and then added, "tell Menelaus that your wife has given birth to your son and you must return to Troy immediately."
Hector sighed, knowing men did not leave treaties of peace to tend to their new born children. "Paris you're still … you're still a boy, I can't leave you here."
Paris stepped closer to Hector, and spoke quietly. "If you love me brother, you will allow me to stay. Please Hector."
Hector's eyes widened, he slowly thought that Paris must wish to prove himself as a Prince of Troy by showing bravery. He looked to his brother sadly, thinking that this was perhaps the test of whether or not Paris would finally become a man.
"Are you sure?" Hector asked, his voice quivering.
Paris nodded.
"Fff … fine," stuttered Hector, unable to believe what he was doing. He felt like he was condemning his brother to death, but he felt as if he had no control over the decision he had made, as if the Gods had intervened.
During the morning meal, while King Menelaus and his wife sat on one side of the table, and Prince Hector and his brother on the other, Hector chose to tell the King of his departure.
"King Menelaus," Hector began, choosing his words wisely, "I have received word from my father that my wife has given birth to our son. I must return to Troy immediately to bless the child."
Paris looked at Hector, a look of confusion flashing across his face which caught the attention of Helen. Children did not need to be blessed in Troy.
Menelaus slowly nodded.
"My brother will remain in my place," continued Hector, "until peace between our great nations has been settled, if your kindness permits that, King Menelaus." He felt sickness rise in his throat as he charmed King Menelaus and said Paris would remain in Sparta.
Menelaus looked to Paris and smiled faintly. He thought Paris was a pathetic Prince, having surveyed him with his own eyes, and having heard various rumors of Paris' lack of talent in battle. But he thought Paris may prove to be useful. Menelaus thought that if Hector left for Troy, then he could have Paris to himself and ask him about Troy.
"Of course Prince Hector," said Menelaus, and smiled, "your brother, Prince Paris, is more than welcome to remain here in your place." He turned to look at Paris for a short moment and then to Hector again. "I hope your child is well." He added.
"Thank you King Menelaus," said Hector, inwardly grieved because he had no children, yet wanted them.
Hector left for Troy that morning, taking a few of the men that had accompanied him and his brother to Sparta. He tried, once more, to persuade Paris to leave instead of him, but Paris would not hear of it.
Paris watched as his brother sailed away and it felt as if a weight had been dropped into his stomach and sunk to the pit of it. He knew why he remained in Sparta, but feared it would cost him his life.
Helen sat alone in her chamber, sitting at her table and brushing her golden hair before she prepared for bed. Once she was content, she placed the brush onto the table and sighed heavily.
She had watched Hector leave and knew Paris would soon also, which caused a small, sparkling tear to trickle down her face. Helen jumped in shock as she felt its coldness against her warm cheeks.
Helen stood up from her chair and glided over to her bed once she had changed into her night robe. A trail of the finest material flowed from the ends of her nightgown. She lay down in her bed, only now feeling how lonely she was in the huge bed, even though she had slept in it alone, except for one night with Paris on the night of his arrival in Sparta, for over five years. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.
Paris crept through the halls of the palace, heading towards Helen's room. He entered her chamber and silently closed the door behind him.
There she was, the daughter of the mighty God Zeus, the woman he had fallen in love with. He had spent a few days with Helen, captivated by her beauty and spirit. He had made love with Helen on the night of his arrival; both had been unable to contain their desire they had for one another.
Paris had not thought of Oenone since the first day of his arrival to Sparta, instead his mind focused on Helen and how he could be with her.
He walked over to Helen's bed and sat on it beside her. For a few moments he just watched Helen as she breathed softly, and reflected over the decisions he had made. She was like a drug to him, a quick reliever to the pain he felt. The pain caused by Oenone was quickly healing because of Helen. Paris had fallen in love with Helen, and he couldn't bear to leave another woman he loved.
Paris gently caressed Helen's hands and her eyes slowly opened. She gasped loudly and sat up in the bed.
"What are you doing here?" She panted.
"I'm leaving for Troy tonight," Paris whispered. He held Helen's hands within his own and lowered his head. "I want you to come with me Helen."
Helen's mouth opened with shock. "Oh Paris…,"
"Helen, I want you to come to Troy with me," Paris said, more urgently now.
"What about Menelaus and my daughter?" cried Helen. "I can't leave them Paris. Menelaus would hunt me down like a dog and Hermione, my sweet child, I can't leave her!"
Paris's head shot up to look at Helen. He saw her eyes fill with tears. He hadn't even thought of Hermione. "I …,"
"I can't leave Paris," sobbed Helen, using every ounce of energy within her body to speak. She wanted to leave Menelaus and Sparta more than anything in the world, but she couldn't bear to leave her child also.
"We could take her with us," Paris quickly suggested.
Helen shook her head. "If I leave Menelaus then I will be disgraced and dishonoured, I do not want Hermione to live with my shame."
"Our shame," corrected Paris, and smiled sadly.
Both sat in silence for what seemed like hours, until Paris stood up from the bed which disrupted it.
"Where are you going?" asked Helen, a note of panic rising in her voice.
"I'll not ask you to choose between your daughter and me," said Paris. He kissed Helen softly and then tore his lips away from hers. "I love you Helen." And then he quickly left the room, leaving Helen alone and grief stricken.
Paris stood at the Spartan docks, waiting for the men to finish loading the ship before he boarded it. He had left word with a servant that he was returning to Troy and to tell King Menelaus the next morning, but that was all.
Once again he had been refused by a woman, and he sneered at himself. He didn't blame Helen, he understood that she could not leave her daughter, but still he wished she would – even though he would never have admitted it to her.
Finally, the men called to Paris to tell him that the ship was ready. Paris nodded and walked closer to the ship, ready to board it when he heard a loud cry from behind him. He suddenly turned and saw Helen running towards him.
Absolute shock covered Paris's face and he ran to Helen. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, never wishing to let her go. He saw Helen crying, which caused him to cling onto her even more tightly.
"I couldn't leave you Paris," sobbed Helen, and clutched onto Paris. They quickly boarded the ship, attracting confused looks from the men on the ship but Paris silenced their murmuring by ordering them to sail away from the docks and to Troy.
Helen had gone to Hermione's chamber before leaving for the docks. She had taken a necklace her own mother, Leda, had left for her. Helen knew Hermione would know what the necklace was and left it by her pillow for Hermione to have, so she could remember her.
It tore Helen's heart to kiss her daughter goodbye as she slept. She wanted to wake Hermione up, but knew it would only cause her more pain. Despite the love Helen had for her daughter, she chose to leave her – something that would haunt her for years in Troy, even more so when she saw Troy burn before her eyes.
A/N: I've done this somewhat different from how it was in "Troy", I didn't want Hector to actually choose if he wanted to send Helen back to Sparta while on the boat returning to Troy, which is a main reason for why I changed it. I hope you enjoy it :)
Donna Lynn – I hope this chapter in particular was different enough, I really appreciate your reviews and for you telling me what you want etc :) I'm really going to try and make it different from "Troy" because I want this to follow the Iliad and Homer more. Thank you for the review!
Ithil-valon – I understand if you don't want to read about the death of Hector, at the moment I have it planned to happen in about eleven chapters, but I've not wrote any chapter past this yet so that will probably change. Thank you for reviewing and I'm really glad you like this story :)
Queen Arwen – I'm really happy that you still like this, I can understand if you begin to hate it because of Helen and Paris, or my writing etc, lol! Thank you for the review :)
Kitera – I'm really glad you enjoyed the chapters, and thank you for the reviews! I'm glad you thought Paris was sneaky; I was trying to make him appear like that :)
Queen Karyl – I began this on the 3rd of December last year, and I updated every day for a while and now I'm updating this about once a week. I'm really glad that you like the end of the chapters and that they help in getting you into the story! Thank you for the review :)