Disclaimer: It's not mine. The characters belong to Homer and the movie rights belong to Wolfgang Peterson and Warner Bros.
SenatorSolo and Ellie: Thanks for your lovely reviews! Yes, Helen is lucky that Odysseus so understanding. She couldn't have pulled off her plan w/out his assistance.
Ch. 5: Callista
Then next day, Helen awoke with a start when she felt someone forcefully shaking her.
"Ah! Get off me…mmph!" She gave a muffled cry as her assailant covered her mouth.
"Shh, it's Penelope." Helen immediately relaxed when she recognized her cousin's soft voice.
"Oops, sorry!" She groggily whispered an apology as Penelope helped her out of bed.
"It's alright – but we have to hurry; you need to go to my chambers right away so you can be transformed into Callista, our new nanny." Helen nodded, showing that she remembered that today was the beginning of their plan. Following her cousin out the door, Helen suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Hold on – I forgot something!" The Spartan Queen dashed back to her chambers, ran to her massive closet, and grabbed one of her turquoise dresses. "Have one of your servants throw it into the sea – it will serve the purpose of being the dress I was wearing when I 'jumped to my death'," Helen explained as they crept through the darkened, quiet palace.
"Good thinking," said Penelope, nodding her approval. "Now when Menelaus sends divers to find your body they'll be sure to think it is 'evidence'. Finally they reached her and Odysseus' sleeping chambers.
"This is Diana; she'll be taking care of you. Don't worry for I've sworn her to secrecy." Penelope introduced her to a tiny brown-haired, wide-eyed servant girl. Helen shook hands with Penelope's young maid, who shyly stammered a hello and then looked down at her feet.
"Thank you so much for helping me, Diana," Helen told her sincerely and gratefully.
"It is nothing, my lady." Helen chuckled.
"You don't have to address me by my title – just Helen, er I mean Callista will be fine." Diana brightened at this.
"Alright then, Callista." The two women smiled at each other and Helen knew that she now had another trusted friend that was going to help her thwart her husband so she could be with her Paris. Penelope quickly ushered them into her spacious bathroom.
"Now, Diana, I'd like for you to go ahead and dye Callista's hair brown," Penelope instructed. "Make sure that she stays hidden until Odysseus comes back for her around midday. And be sure not to let anyone in before that time."
"Yes, Miss Penelope," said Diana. Penelope beamed at them.
"Good luck you two." She turned to go.
"But wait!" called Helen, worriedly. "Where are you going?"
"I must go down for breakfast with Odysseus and act like we're leaving for Ithaca today," Penelope patiently explained.
"Oh, right," said Helen weakly. "Just please be as convincing as possible when you discover that I've 'committed suicide'."
Penelope promised her, "I've got it covered," and quickly left the bathroom. As Helen was waiting for her hair dye to sink in, she heard the sounds of Penelope and Odysseus dressing and pretending to pack in the adjoining room. Soon all was quiet. Telemachus slept on; Penelope didn't expect him to wake until much later.
"Callista," Diana began as she applied the dye, "do you mind if I ask you a question about the Trojan prince?" Helen smiled at her.
"No, not at all."
"How did you fall in love? Please, do tell me all about the time you spent with him," she urged. Helen gave her a dreamy grin.
"Well, it all started when Prince Paris held my hands and assured me that he would enjoy his visit in Sparta…" Helen entertained the servant with her stories of love while she was transformed into Callista, the lowly nanny.
Meanwhile, Penelope and Odysseus had just arrived downstairs for breakfast. Penelope's heart was racing and her palms were sweating, as she was extremely nervous about the role she was about to play. Luckily, Odysseus noticed this and squeezed her hand in reassurance.
"You're going to be fine," he whispered in her ear as they made their way to sit at the royal table. Penelope nervously nibbled on her eggs while the nobles surrounding her ate and gossiped as usual. She kept glancing over at Odysseus as if to say 'Is it time now?' Each time, he would slightly shake his head no. Just when she felt like she couldn't take it anymore, her husband spoke.
"Have you seen Helen this morning," he asked Menelaus casually, who frowned.
"Not since last night- it's not like her to miss a meal." The Spartan King's brows furrowed giving him a confused look. Some might've mistaken it for concern but Penelope knew better. He was just disappointed about missing yet another chance to show off his trophy wife.
"I'll go find her," Penelope offered, managing to keep her voice steady. "After all, I must say goodbye to her before we leave for Ithaca." The men nodded and Penelope escaped from the dining hall not a moment too soon. Rushing to Helen's chambers, she pulled the suicide note that Helen had written the previous night from her robes. It's now or never, she thought grimly.
Penelope threw open the door and pretended to watch Helen jump to her death from the balcony. She convincingly screamed in desperation,
"No, Helen! Don't jump..." she trailed off and ran to the edge of the balcony, leaning over to look at the stormy seas below. Off in the distance, she spied the turquoise dress that her servant had tossed in the sea earlier that morning. Once they heard her cries of anguish, servants came running.
"Miss Penelope, what ever is the matter!" One servant asked the distraught woman.
"It's Queen Helen," Penelope sobbed. "She jumped from the ledge before I could get to her..." There was no need to say more. The disturbing news quickly spread between the arriving servants, and Penelope felt bad for lying to them. Ah well, I have no other choice. Perhaps I will tell them the whole story when Helen is safely on her way to Troy.
The Ithacan Queen let them try to comfort her but still kept crying. After she pretended to eventually calm down a little, Penelope allowed the servants to lead her back to the dining hall so she could break the faux sad news to everyone. When she re-entered the dining hall, all eyes fell on her when everyone noticed her blood-shot eyes and ruined makeup.
"My friends, I'm afraid I have some horrible news," Penelope began in a low, uneven voice. The nobles grew quiet, even Menelaus seemed to be listening to what she had to say. Odysseus was absent, she noted with relief. At least his role in the plan is going well.
"I just saw my cousin Helen -" her breath caught in her throat and she paused for effect before continuing. "She jumped from her balcony into the Aegean." A collective gasp was heard. Menelaus looked furious, Penelope noted to her satisfaction. "I'm so sorry; I feel terrible that I couldn't reach her in time to prevent her from committing this heinous deed." She began to weep again and slumped into her chair.
"Guards…search the waters," Menelaus bellowed. "Go find her!" His guards left in a hurry to carry out their king's orders. Penelope pretended to look around wildly for Odysseus.
"Where's my husband?" She sniffled, asking nobody in particular.
"He left just moments ago to stop his fleet from leaving without him," one of Menelaus' friends told her. "He'll be back soon."
"Thank you," she whispered miserably. Penelope laid her head on the table, pretending to be overcome with grief. Thankfully, the nobles left her alone. After awhile, the Spartan guards returned.
"Well?" asked Menelaus, anxiously. The guards shuffled in place and glanced nervously at each other.
"We found this my lord." Lifting her head up in time, Penelope saw the guard captain hold out the tattered remains of Helen's turquoise dress. "I'm sorry," he said awkwardly. At this, Menelaus angrily banged his fist on the wooden table.
"If any one needs me, I'll be in my chambers," he yelled as he stalked out of the dining hall. No one was foolish enough to follow him. Penelope lay her head back down and waited for Odysseus to come back.
While this scene was transpiring, Odysseus ran to the harbor docks to speak with his fleet commander, but not for the reasons that people thought. He climbed aboard his grandest ship and his commander bowed to him.
"My lord, what has happened? Are you not leaving for home today?"
"The Spartan Queen has just committed suicide; my wife will need some time to grieve here so we'd decided to stay for a little while longer," Odysseus patiently explained. "I want you to sail for home as planned, leaving one ship for us to follow in about a week or so."
"Yes my king," the commander responded. "It shall be done." He began to give the orders to set sail. But Portia, Telemachus' nanny looked at Odysseus expectantly.
"I'm sorry, Portia, but I need you to return home without us," said Odysseus and the girl's face crumpled. "Don't worry, we still require your services; you've done nothing but quality work," he told her, hoping to make her feel better. Portia brightened.
"You mean I'm not dismissed?" Odysseus chuckled.
"Of course not! I would have you stay but, well, it's very complicated…" He looked at her helplessly, knowing that he couldn't divulge Helen's secret in such a public setting.
"That's alright, my lord. You have your reasons and I must respect them." The Ithacan King was very relieved to note that she didn't seem upset. "I shall see you soon."
Odysseus watched as one by one the ships cast off. When every ship but one was underway, he hurried back to the palace through the marketplace. However, a large crowd was gathering in the streets, blocking his return route.
"Excuse me, sir, but what is going on?" Odysseus asked one of the villagers as he made his way to the front of the crowd. The old man shook his head sadly.
"A woman just breathed her last breath and her child still clings to her still form." Odysseus' heart went out to the young girl, who he could now see crying next to her dead mother. He knew how hard it was to lose one's parents at such an early age. Taking pity on the child, he walked up to her with every intention of finding her a good home.
"Hello, miss." Odysseus bent down so he could address the child on her level. The girl looked up but didn't release her mother's limp hand.
"I am King of Ithaca; do you know where that is?" A collective gasp went up from the crowd but he paid it no mind. The young girl shook her head staring at him with her wide chocolate eyes.
"I don't know of anywhere but here," she sniffed. "Except I've heard of Troy." Wanting to keep their conversation going, Odysseus decided to pursue the subject.
"What do you know about Troy?" he asked her kindly. The girl thought for a moment.
"Not much but I do know that my…my mother's family is from there. She was kidnapped from her home when she was fifteen." Shaking his head, Odysseus' heart ached for the girl's mother and what a hard life she must've had as a slave. Well, there was nothing he could do for the dead woman, but he could ensure that her daughter had a good life. He held his arms out and the girl hugged him, sobbing.
"There, there," he soothed the girl. She could be no more than eight. "You're going to be alright. Do you have any other family here?" The girl shook her head no, looking incredibly miserable. "Well, how about this," said Odysseus, an idea forming in his head. "Would you like to find your family in Troy and live with them? If you come back to the palace with me, I promise that can happen." The girl pulled away from his comforting embrace and smiled through her tears.
"Really! You'd do that for me?" Odysseus grinned and ruffled her curly brown hair.
"Yes. But you have to help me too. Can you do that?" He supposed so, as she gave him a big hug and a true smile. By this time the crowd had thickened considerably.
"Go about your business; there is nothing to see here," he commanded, and the people slowly dispersed, opening a path in which they could walk.
"So, what's your name?" he asked the girl.
"Larissa," she answered shyly. "What can I do to help you? Please, you've been so kind to me, I'll do anything!"
"Well, I have a big job for you," he told her with all seriously. "Could you help take care of my little son? I'm sure my nanny could use some extra assistance." She beamed at him.
"Of course! I'd love to." Then she frowned at him. "Is that it?" Odysseus paused, wondering just how much to tell Larissa.
"Not exactly. My nanny, Callista is new. The people who live in the palace don't know that I've employed her yet. But she's only going to be working for me for a short time before she goes to live in Troy. It would be easier for you to go with her if people just assumed that she was your mother." Larissa sniffled a bit at this. Odysseus gave her another hug.
"Now I know that she'd never replace your real mother, but if you could just pretend to be her daughter for just a little while, eventually you could sail for Troy with her." Inwardly he prayed that she would accept his offer.
"I can do that," Larissa told him happily, and Odysseus sighed in relief. "But why is she going to Troy? Does her family live there too?"
"Something like that. You'll have to ask Callista herself," he told her, and she seemed satisfied with his answer. They'd finally reached the palace, and after they recognized Odysseus, the guards let them in immediately. Marching down the corridor towards the dining hall, they saw small groups of nobles talking in hushed voices. Odysseus hoped that this was a result of Helen's 'suicide' and that the plan had gone well. One of Menelaus' guards approached them and said,
"My lord, you wife is very distressed. You should go to her; she's still in the dining hall."
"Very well," he told the man. Odysseus bent down again to face Larissa.
"This man will give you directions to my wife's chambers. I want you to go there and wait for us, do you understand?" Larissa nodded, and left with the guard leaving the Ithacan King free to go find his wife.
Meanwhile, back in Troy, Paris had been summoned to his father's council meeting. He was now seated on the left side of his father (Hector was on the right) in a very uncomfortable stone throne. Listening to the monotonous general Glaucus was proving to be much more difficult than he thought, but he knew he must pay attention for Helen's sake. For right now they were discussing the foreign exchange program with Sparta and he needed to look interested in what the speaker was saying.
"Does anyone wish to head this program?" Glaucus asked and no one responded. Very slowly, Paris raised his hand.
"Yes, Prince Paris?" said a very surprised Glaucus. Paris couldn't blame the old fellow; he'd never shown any interest in the previous meetings. Oh well, I suppose you do crazy things when you're in love. "Did you have a question?"
"No, my lord. I want to volunteer to head this new program." At this, a low murmur swept through the noblemen.
"Silence!" commanded King Priam, who looked just as shocked as everyone else besides Hector.
"Paris, why do you want to lead this program?" Hector asked him encouragingly. Paris took a deep breath.
"It's high time that I take a more active stance in our great country's government. I plan to ensure that our peace treaty that you all worked so hard to build is strengthened. This program will do just that. Our boys could learn from the Spartans about farming techniques as well as teach them some of our own. This is just one example of the knowledge that our countries could share. I've already begun to promote this; many fathers have come to me saying that their sons would be honored to live in Sparta for a year for the sake of peace…"
Paris spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually he finished his heartfelt speech and took his seat at the sound of light applause. The King and his councilmen put their heads together to vote on whether or not the younger prince of Troy could indeed head this important endeavor. Finally Priam stood up.
"Good news, son," he announced, a broad smile on his wizened face. "You've got the job; you leave for Sparta in one week!" Paris stared at his father incredulously. He couldn't believe his good fortune.
"You mean it! I mean, thank you sir," he recovered smoothly. "I won't let Troy down." Priam waved his hand, indicating the meeting was dismissed. Paris quickly sped out the door before he could be bombarded by questions. He made his way to the top of Troy's walls that overlooked the Aegean hoping to be undisturbed with his jumbled thoughts. Just when he thought he was alone, someone spoke.
"Congratulations, brother." Paris spun around to see Hector standing behind him.
"Oh Hector, it's just you," he said, relieved.
"What do you mean just me?" Hector teased his younger brother. Paris stammered an apology. Should I tell him about Helen now? We're alone; it's the perfect opportunity.
"Hector, I need to tell you something," he began nervously.
"I'm listening," Hector said seriously, sitting down on the wall to face his brother.
"The real reason why I'm going to Sparta is," he paused, "because I want the people of Troy to look up to me they way the revere you." Damn it, why did I lie? I'm such a chicken. Paris grimaced and Hector mistook it for embarrassment.
"It's alright brother," said Hector. "I realize it hasn't been easy for you to live in my shadow, but I'm glad that you're trying to give me some competition. If I'm not careful, and you do an excellent job with this program, the people might want you to be the next king." Paris began to protest but then he saw the mischievous gleam in Hector's eye and knew he was only joking.
"I really do want peace, I promise you," Paris defended himself. Hector nodded understandingly.
"If you ever need to talk about something else that's bothering you, I'm always around," Hector informed his younger brother.
"Thanks," said Paris weakly. Hector nodded, and left Paris to his own thoughts. I have to tell him about Helen soon; it's getting so hard to do. He's going to be furious when he learns the truth why I took the foreign exchange program position. But he has to know eventually. The young prince of Troy sighed. At least he got the chance to save Helen from her fate as that horrible Spartan King's husband. Helen, I miss you so. Do you think of me as much as I think of you? I wonder what you are doing at this very moment. He kissed the palm of his hand and blew the kiss across the sea in the direction of Sparta.
Little did Paris know, but at that moment Helen was daydreaming about him. She was remembering the time that they first met – it seemed so real, like he was actually there with her.
"Callista, how do you like your new look?" To her annoyance, the interruption shattered Helen's pleasant daydream.
"Huh?" Helen realized that Diana was finished with her 'servant makeover'. When she took a glimpse at herself in the mirror she grinned. Now that she wore a smock and the fact that her hair was dyed a dirty brown, Queen Helen was nowhere to be seen; Diana had made her truly unrecognizable.
"I'm sorry, Diana," said Helen. "I was just –"
"Thinking about Prince Paris," the servant interjected. "I know that look." Helen nodded, blushing and Diana chuckled.
"That's alright milady. I could see that you two were truly in love." Helen smiled at her.
"Yes, we are." Diana put the finishing touches of dirt on her hands and face to make it seem that Callista had been pulled directly from the streets.
"You know, my friend was planning on seducing Paris when she heard he was arriving. She'd heard the stories about how he was the greatest lover in all of Troy. But when she sought him out one day, Paris politely but firmly refused her advances. I just thought that you should know that he's remained faithful to you."
"I'm glad to hear that," Helen said gratefully. "He changed when I met him; I honestly don't know how I did it."
"Oh I don't know," began Diana. "I don't think he found it hard to love only you." Helen shrugged but secretly she was pleased. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going down for breakfast." Helen told her that she didn't mind, and Diana hurriedly went downstairs.
Helen was left all alone in Penelope and Odysseus' massive chambers. Without the presence of someone else to take her mind of him, Helen started to ache for her Paris. Oh Paris, if you only knew how much I need your soft touch right now. In spite of herself, she began to cry softly, sinking slowly onto the floor. Please hurry; come save me from this wretched place before someone discovers our secret. Although it was mid-morning, Helen cried herself to sleep. She wouldn't wake until someone knocked on the door an hour later.
End. Ch: 5
Please review! I crave your feedback:D