Disclaimer: It's not mine. The characters belong to Homer and the movie rights belong to Wolfgang Peterson and Warner Bros.
Summary: What if Helen didn't sail back with Paris to Troy right away because she didn't want to start a war? How can the lovers possibly be together now? AU Paris/Helen
Ch. 1: The Delphi Oracle
"Helen! You'd better come out soon; do you hear me woman!" A coarse voice yelled from outside the bedchamber. "Our guests are due to arrive at any moment, and I do not wish to be late to greet them."
Helen, Queen of Sparta closed her eyes, trying unsuccessfully to shut out the intruding world around her. Sparta had prepared for this blessed event for weeks; after many years of strife, all of Greece and many of its neighboring kingdoms had decided to make peace. The cooks worked overtime to prepare enough food for their esteemed visitors. Wine was brought in, the palace was given a scrubbing from top to bottom, and the royal musicians had lengthened their practice schedule so they could learn new songs to play at the feast.
There hadn't been a day that she hadn't dreaded. Not since her marriage to a heartless, callow man who was twice her age. Helen couldn't ignore the harsh, insistent words of her husband, King Menelaus for any longer. Running a brush through her golden tendrils for the final time, the Queen reluctantly left the safety of her sleeping quarters to meet her husband.
"Ah, I see you look as lovely as ever," her husband commented. Helen inwardly cringed. If she could have her way, people would be forbidden to mention 'beauty' and 'looks'.
"And what's this? A smile! Have you finally accepted me as your overlord?" He whispered the last part in her ear, so that none of the servants would hear. She scoffed at him.
"Never. I'm merely thankful that my cousin Penelope is among the guests that will be arriving today," she told him defiantly. Menelaus just smiled and kissed her on the mouth, knowing how much it would disgust her. They played this game daily, and as much as she loathed it, Helen wasn't going to let Menelaus believe he owned her. Even though the law decreed that he did – he couldn't own her heart.
As the royal couple strolled down to the docks, Menelaus reminded his young wife that he expected only exemplary behavior from her.
"You are representing your country. This peace agreement is very important, and many great leaders will be coming or sending ambassadors in their stead." She shrugged indifferently, as she was sick of hearing about how vital this special occasion was.
"I'll spend my time with Penelope and King Odysseus; you'll spend yours with Agamemnon and the other rulers," Helen said, pointedly. "This shall be no different than any other feast or celebration that Sparta has played host to."
As Menelaus continued to prattle on about behavior, Helen tuned him out like she always did. She'd daydream about her childhood - the only time in her life that she had ever enjoyed. True, she'd been married at age sixteen, but by the time she was twelve, men everywhere had begun to notice her beauty and she had to spend her days caged inside her father's palace.
Of course Helen hadn't married him by choice. Women didn't have a say in the matter, she thought angrily. It wasn't customary for wealthy Greek women to marry for love; it was much more practical fathers to marry off their daughters to make alliances. And being a princess, Helen was no exception. Although she loved Tyndareus dearly, she still couldn't bring herself to forgive him for forcing her into a loveless union.
One of her favorite memories that she like to ponder (although it was not her happiest by any means) was the day that her father took her to see the Delphi Oracle.
Tyndareus escorted a young Helen through the crowded streets of Delphi, glaring at men who dared to ogle his burgeoning daughter. Each time Helen felt the heat of their stare, she moved closer to her father, who hugged her reassuringly. However, her stony expression showed no outward signs of trepidation. Already the young beauty was getting practice to play her upcoming role – the 'ice' Queen of Sparta. In no time they reached their destination just outside the famed temple, and were met by a priest of Apollo.
"All those wishing to see the Oracle today, please follow me." A well-adorned priest beckoned and Helen and Tyndareus fell in line behind him. He guided them to a nearby stream so they could be purified. Everyone wishing to see the Oracle gingerly stepped into the clear, shallow water. Helen was careful not to slip on any rocks.
After they had been cleansed, another priest came with a cart to collect the animal sacrifices (mostly sheep) they'd brought to honor Apollo. Tyndareus' manservant looked relieved to have his heavy burden removed from sight.
"Now then, please follow me up Mt. Parnassus. Tread carefully, and keep up." The original priest led the ragtag group to the summit, where the temple proudly rested.
"Before we enter, I ask that everyone clear their mind of unpleasant thoughts; only focus on what's good and pure." Helen tried to do what the priest ordered, but she couldn't forget the lusty stares that she'd received on the street. Yet, when they walked up the stone steps and in between the massive columns to enter Apollo's house, Helen's thoughts turned to awe. Not even in her palace had she seen such splendorous architecture. The young princess openly gaped at the colorful murals that depicted familiar Greek myths. Incense and burning sacrifices assaulted her nose. Abruptly, the priest came to a stop in what she assumed to be the main worship hall.
"The Pythia (high priestess) will see you now." The priest spoke directly to Helen. (Due to their royal status, they were the temple's first priority).
"Thank you," Tyndareus answered smoothly. Clutching her father's hand, the young princess descended into the darkness that was the temple's subterranean chamber. The only light they had was the dim candle the priest carried as he walked before them. Up ahead, Helen could make out the outline of a door, which they ventured through into a new chamber.
Illuminated by candlelight, an ethereal woman sat before them upon a raised stone dais. She was clothed in pure white robes, and wore no jewelry except for a golden necklace that held a tiny sun. Helen couldn't tear her eyes away from this powerful woman, therefore she didn't hear the priest leave them.
"Welcome, young Helen," the Oracle addressed her. "Why have you come seeking my counsel this day?" Tyndareus answered for her.
"I wish to protect my lovely daughter and my kingdom from the horrors of war. When Helen eventually marries and becomes Queen, other Kings will gladly go to war with us just to have her. I was hoping you could provide an answer to this dilemma for me." Helen's father sighed and pulled her close. "I wish I could keep her a little girl forever. Her impending beauty is not a blessing; it is a curse!" The Oracle frowned at this.
"A gift bestowed by the Gods is never a curse," she gently reminded him. "Trust me; you don't want to waste my time telling you how to solve a matter that, given some thought, can be solved without divine intervention."
"But…" She held up her hand and he fell silent.
"However, my lord Apollo has an important message he wants me to relay concerning Helen's future." Tyndareus' eyes grew wide at this prospect and demanded to hear it. "Very well; pay close attention," she warned him.
Just then, thick white smoke enveloped the Oracle, who'd closed her eyes and was gripping the sides of her throne. Helen and Tyndareus stepped back, holding their noses because the fragrant smell was making them feel light-headed. Suddenly, the high-priestess began to speak.
"Apollo bids you his greeting," she boomed. "Listen closely, for this also concerns the fate of his patron city. There will come a time in your life when you shall have to make a difficult choice, Helen. It is not a choice I'd bestow on anyone, but you must choose nonetheless. Weigh your outcomes carefully. Think rationally – yet do not abandon yearnings of the heart." The Oracle paused for breath, and continued on.
"If you give into the sweetest of temptations, you will find lifelong happiness and fulfillment. However, you will cause thousands to suffer or die at the expense of your newfound joy." Helen visibly shivered, and wondered: how could I possibly be the reason for so much death?
"On the other hand, if you resist the temptation, you will have spared countless of innocent lives from destruction. But you will be doomed to fall into a deep depression, and suffer from loneliness for the rest of your days. Choose wisely, fair one. Choose wisely."
Helen and her father just stared at the Oracle, flabbergasted, as the smoke slowly began to dissipate. The Pythia seemed to shake herself awake, and when she opened her eyes, saw a frightened Helen and an angry Tyndareus. In a calm but firm voice, she ordered the King to leave the room so she could speak with Helen privately. Predictably, he protested.
"I will not…" His brave daughter cut him off.
"I do not mind staying, father," she said softly. Looking defeated, Tyndareus left the room. Helen was now alone in the presence of the fabled Oracle. Sensing the girl's despair, the older woman tried to comfort her, and to somewhat alleviate her fears.
"It will be alright, young one." Helen looked at her; disbelief showed in her eyes. Shaking, she irately asked,
"How can it be, when in order for me to find true happiness and fulfillment, thousands of innocents must die?" The Oracle locked eyes with the girl.
"Think, child. There might be a third option…if you can invent it yourself." Poor Helen was more confused than ever.
"But how? You spoke of only two possible outcomes that could result from this terrible choice of mine." The high priestess decided to divulge an ancient secret to the young Helen.
"Prophecies are warnings of what is to come. They are not to be ignored or taken lightly, but they are warnings nonetheless. The future is not set in stone. Prophecies are only as real as you make them to be." A new fear surfaced in Helen's young mind.
"How am I to know when this choice will happen? I'm only eleven summers!"
"You'll know. Believe me, you'll know this temptation when you see it." The Oracle was now smiling broadly at her. "Have faith, child. Know that even in your darkest hour, you are still in charge of your future – no matter what anyone tells you." Helen nodded, timidly.
"Thank you for all your advice. I will try to make the best decision, oh exalted one."
"That's all Apollo asks of you. I can say no more." The Oracle bade her goodbye, and Helen quickly left the room, trudged up the stairs, and ran into her father's waiting arms.
They only discussed the prophecy once, on the way home. Helen asked her father what Apollo's patron country was but he couldn't give her a straight answer.
"All the city-states in Greece worship him; I suppose our allies and enemies do as well…" Feeling extremely uncomfortable about the entire thing, Helen never again brought up the matter to anyone.
Returning to the present, Helen bemusedly wondered why she remembered that particular childhood memory today. The prophecy had not come true; she'd never had to make any unbearable choice. In fact, she'd never had the opportunity to do so. The men in Helen's life made choices for her.
Her cousin and her husband were the first guests to arrive. Seeing their smiling faces somewhat warmed her heart.
"Penelope! Odysseus! How are you? How fares Ithaca?" She engaged the young couple in a long conversation, and caught up on all the happenings in their lives.
"Telemachus, do you remember Aunt Helen?" Penelope held the toddler out to Helen and he lunged for her, grinning. King Odysseus proudly told her of their son's latest accomplishments.
"He's been able to run for a few weeks now."
"Yes, and I'm the one that has to run after him," Penelope pointed out, dryly. Helen knew she was only teasing; her cousin had found true love with Odysseus and it showed.
Telemachus wanted to get down, so 'Aunt Helen' watched him run around for a bit, giving his parents a small break from their exhausting duties. She had her hands full for so long that she didn't notice the arrival of another ship.
"Helen!" Menelaus barked. "Come and meet the ambassadors from Troy." Sighing, she gave little Telemachus back to his mother and shuffled over towards her husband.
"Prince Hector, this is my lovely wife Helen." Menelaus always took pride in introducing his wife. He never could resist an opportunity to brag that he'd been chosen to marry her out of all her suitors.
"It is nice to finally meet you, Queen Helen." Hector shook her hand firmly, and Helen was pleased to see his kindly face lacking the usual lustful look. She smiled at him gratefully and he seemed to understand why.
"Likewise," she murmered.
"Helen, this is Prince Paris, the younger brother of Prince Hector." She held out her hand and he softly shook it. At his gentle touch, she looked up and locked eyes with the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. His gaze was electrifying; they both froze in mid-shake, each sensing a powerful connection while idle chatter went on around them. Swirling in his deep brown eyes were a myriad of emotions, including some that she couldn't decipher. He seemed to be delving into her very soul. Helen finally found her voice, vaguely remembering Menelaus' lecture on politeness.
"Prince Paris, I welcome you to Sparta. I hope you enjoy your stay here." She prayed that her comment didn't sound as fake as she was feeling.
"Do not worry –I'm sure I will." He gave her a wide smile and her heart thumped inside its cavity. His voice awakened feelings in her that Helen believed to be long dormant. From that moment on, Helen knew that Paris deeply cared for her. His gaze made that clear. And even though she knew it was wrong, all day she felt herself falling for this intense yet sensitive young man. During the evening meal, he leaned over and whispered in her ear,
"Would you meet me in the gardens, tonight?" She gave him a slow nod, and a tiny smile. Encouraged, he held her hand under the table and she had to resist the urge to swoon right then and there.
Helen of Sparta couldn't deny her attraction to Prince Paris, nor could she resist his nighttime invitation. Just this once, it couldn't hurt to be loved. Just for one night.
End Ch. 1
Like it? Hate it? Have any suggestions? Review:D