Disclaimer: It's not mine, although I wish I could claim Paris. The characters belong to Homer and the movie rights belong to Wolfgang Peterson and Warner Bros.
Ch. 10: Leaving for Troy
"Helen, will you marry me?" Paris's question echoed in her mind as Helen tried to process what had just happened. Was she dreaming? Did he really ask her to marry him? Perhaps she'd misheard him.
"What did you say?" she whispered, daring to hope. Paris decided to elaborate.
"Helen, my love, will you be my wife?" This time she gasped, for she knew for certain that she'd heard him correctly. He continued,
"I wish for you to be the only one by my side from this day forth. I want nothing more than to share my life with you and to make your sweetest dreams come true." He brought her hand up to his lips and softly kissed her fingers one by one. The intimate gesture was a promise of what was to come. I can't believe this is really happening to me, she thought. If only I could find my voice.
But Helen's voice had left her; she was utterly flabbergasted. Smiling weakly at her Prince she tried to speak but no sound came out of her mouth. How frustrating - she'd never wanted to agree to something more in her whole life! Paris's eyes showed the beginnings of doubt and she couldn't keep him in suspense any longer. She captured his pouting lips with hers, initiating a scorching kiss. Finally, they broke apart, panting hard.
"I'll take it that was a yes," said Paris, chuckling. Helen found her voice at last.
"Yes, that was a yes," she confirmed joyfully, snuggling closer to his tired but warm body. "Oh Paris! I can't believe it," she exclaimed quietly, while tears began to form in her sapphire eyes.
"Believe it," he assured her. "Now we have all the time in the world to spend together – an entire lifetime." He looked at her quizzically, for she still didn't seem to accept the fact that she'd be a princess of Troy in less than two week's time.
"I was afraid you'd never ask me to marry you," she admitted. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to take our relationship to that level." He exhaled slowly.
"Sweetheart, of course I want to!" As he was stroking her cheeks, Helen leaned into his gentle touch. "I'd always had the thought of marriage in my mind ever since I'd met you. That night, after we'd made love for the first time, I knew that you were the one for me. You looked so beautiful then…as you do now."
One of the tears escaped and trickled down her cheek. He gently kissed it away and looked at her, concerned. What is it? His eyes seemed to ask.
"Promise me you'll never leave me, Paris," she murmured, her hands smoothing a few stray curls away from his eyes. "I couldn't stand my heart being broken by you."
"Never," he vowed. "I'm not going anywhere without you," he said softly. She sighed with happiness, melting in his arms. They held each other for a long while, finding comfort in each other's arms.
"When do you wish to hold the wedding?" she asked, wanting to stay on the subject of their joining.
"Very soon after we arrive in Troy," he said. "Preparation will have to be made, of course. But I'd rather it be an intimate ceremony; just my family and a few friends. That is, if it's alright with you?" She nodded, sighing with relief.
"It sounds perfect," she told him, kissing his forehead. "I remember my first wedding; it was this huge event. Menelaus held it outside, where all the townspeople could see him marry me. I felt everyone's eyes on me…it was an uncomfortable experience that I'd rather not repeat." Paris nodded in understanding; he knew what it was like to be viewed in the public eye.
"Although I'm sure the Trojan people are lovely," she added as an afterthought. Paris smiled at her.
"I'm sure they'll love you. But there's no reason why our wedding should be held where all can see. As much as I'd love to show you off," (Helen bopped him in the arm), "I know that's not the time." Helen lay contentedly next to him as she daydreamed about their wedding. She couldn't wait until they were finally bound together in the sacraments of matrimony. But then something began to gnaw at her, until she had to voice her worry to Paris.
"What about your family? Except for your brother and cousin, they'll only know me as a poor servant girl. Will that matter that you're marrying beneath you?" He shook his head.
"Only Hector was required to marry a princess by law, as he is the future king. I'm allowed to marry whomever I wish." Paris laughed, a low musical laugh that Helen would never tire of hearing.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"My family – they'll never believe that I'm getting married. Especially my dear father…I only hope the shock won't aggravate his health problems." He grinned mischievously.
"I can't wait to tell him!" Helen helped him sit up again so he could finish his soup.
"How did Hector take the news?"
"At first not to well," he admitted, taking his last bite. He swallowed, and continued. "But after I explained that we're taken every precaution not to be found out, he warmed up to the idea. He hates Menelaus, and is glad that you're going to marry me – he thinks we're good for each other. As soon as you arrive, he wants to thank you personally for helping me grow up." At this, Helen laughed.
"He sounds like a great brother-in-law. It'll be wonderful to have a family again," she murmured, putting his tray with the empty bowl aside.
"And I know Briseis will love you as well. She's a few years younger than us, but her enthusiasm is contagious." Paris smiled, thinking about his cousin.
Suddenly a knock sounded at the door. Helen got out of bed to answer it, and found Larissa standing outside the room with one of the palace guards.
"Your daughter is here to see you, Callista. Lord Odysseus and his wife will come by momentarily."
"Thank you," Helen said, and ushered Larissa inside the room, closing the door firmly behind her.
"Hi!" Larissa squealed, and jumped on Helen, who swept her up in a hug. "I had so much fun today at my friend Meg's house!"
"I'm glad," commented Helen, ruffling her "daughter's" hair. "Larissa, there is someone I'd like for you to meet." She gestured to a very astounded Paris, who was regarding them with his mouth agape.
"This is Prince Paris of Troy – he's not feeling well, otherwise he'd get up to greet you." Larissa scampered over towards the bed and Helen followed her, sitting down next to her beloved.
"I'm very please to meet you, Prince Paris," she said with a curtsy.
"It's good to meet you, Larissa," he said automatically. Paris looked at Helen with questioning eyes over the girl's head.
"I didn't know you had a daughter," he said in surprise. Helen feigned indifference.
"Didn't I tell you?" Paris shook his head wordlessly, staring at Larissa with trepidation. Helen couldn't carry the joke any longer. Glancing at Larissa, they both burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" said Paris, annoyed that he was left out of the loop. Tears of mirth glistened in the corner of Helen's eyes.
"You," she gasped. "She's not really my daughter – Odysseus rescued her from the streets and she's been helping me take care of Telemachus. He thought that it would help with my disguise if she pretended to be my daughter." Still giggling, she crowed, "You should've seen your face!"
"I'm coming with you to Troy," Larissa announced. "My mother's family lives there," she added for clarification.
"That is, if it's alright with you," Helen said quickly. Paris slowly nodded his head.
"Of course," he told her. Then he turned to the eight year old.
"I promise you, I'll do anything in my power to reunite you with your family. And until then, you can live with us in the palace."
"Really?" said Larissa, wide eyed.
"Really," he confirmed, squeezing Helen's hand as she beamed at him.
"I like you," Larissa approved. "Are we going to leave soon?" Paris and Helen stared at each other for a moment.
"Well, we hadn't really discussed it yet," he began. "But I'd like to return home as soon as possible."
"As soon as you're well we can leave," Helen confirmed.
"Now that you are here, are you going to ask her to marry you?" Larissa asked Paris unflinchingly. "She was really worried so you'd better ask her. Helen is my friend, and she deserves to be married." she said with a pout.
"Larissa!" Helen moaned, shocked by her bluntness. But Paris just chuckled.
"It's fine…she's right. I should've asked you before I left. I swear never meant to make you worry, I just wanted it to be a surprise." They hugged, and Helen leaned against him. Watching this display of affection, Larissa smiled. Then Paris turned his attention to the little girl.
"You just missed my proposal – I asked Helen to marry me a few moments before you arrived," he informed her.
"Good," said Larissa seriously.
"Would you like to be in our wedding?" Paris asked her, just as seriously. She grinned up at him.
"I'd love to!" She gave Paris a fierce hug, which he returned, albeit a bit tiredly. Another knock sounded at the door and Larissa ran to answer it.
"Penelope, guess what, guess what!" she shrieked after she let the Ithacan Queen in the room.
"What?" Penelope humored her.
"Paris asked Helen to marry him and I'm going to be in the wedding!"
"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Penelope. "Helen, is this true?"
"Yes," Helen beamed at her cousin. Penelope looked too happy to speak. Finally she was able to.
"Congratulations, you two," she told them after she gave them both hugs.
"Thank you so much for helping Helen," Paris said solemnly after he'd greeted Penelope. "We couldn't have done it without your and your husband's help."
"It was no problem at all," said Penelope, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Larissa, why don't you go say goodnight to Telemachus? It's past your best time, you know."
"See you later," said Larissa before she bounded out of the room. As soon as she left, Penelope's face turned grim.
"What's wrong?" asked Helen, immediately worried.
"Menelaus is on to us," she told them reluctantly.
"What!" Paris paled, gripping Helen's hand. "How?"
"His manservant, Darius told him that we helped Helen fake her own death and that we're hiding her somewhere in the city. But don't worry," added Penelope after seeing the stricken expression on their faces. "He hasn't figured out that we're hiding you right under his nose." Briefly, Helen's cousin explained how the Spartan King had called an audience with her and Odysseus just after he'd returned with Larissa and Telemachus.
"But I thought you sent him to Ithaca!" Helen questioned. "How on earth did he get to tell Menelaus if…" Penelope cut her off.
"He escaped somehow…"
"I'm not letting Helen go again," Paris vowed, holding her close. "But I don't want to do anything to disrupt this peace agreement that my brother has worked so hard to create."
"What are we going to do, Penelope?" Helen sniffled, clutching Paris tightly. "He's not well enough to travel yet…"
"We must be patient," she advised. "In a few days, Paris should be feeling much better. With a little luck, he'll never find out that Callista is really you." Paris gave a huge yawn.
"I'm sorry," he said, stretching. Helen shook her head.
"Don't be; you must be exhausted from your ordeal."
"Come, Helen – you need to have your hair dyed again…most of it has washed out since you were out in the sea and the rain," Penelope pointed out. "We want your disguise to be as fool-proof as possible, especially now.
"Alright," she reluctantly agreed, not wishing to leave her Paris. "You get some sleep, dear. I'll be back soon." She knew that he needed his rest, and indeed she was right. The young prince of Troy fell asleep as soon as she and Penelope left him alone.
Diana dyed her hair brown again, and Helen breathed a sigh of relief. She looked unrecognizable, yet she stilled worried that Menelaus would figure out who she was. The sooner that she and Paris left Sparta, the better. Tiptoeing through the silent, dark palace, she slipped into Paris' room, and got under the covers with him. He didn't even stir when she spooned up against him. They slept well, although Penelope woke Helen a little early so that she could bring Paris breakfast in bed.
During the next few days, Helen helped her fiancée pass the time in bed by discussing their future plans. When Paris brought up subject of children, she thought she might burst with joy.
"I can only envision you as the mother of my children," he told her shyly.
"Thank you," she blushed. "I've always dreamt of being a mother, but I didn't think that would ever happen. Not until I met you." She'd always dreamed of having a large family, but had long since given up on that dream, especially after her failed marriage with Menelaus. But ever since Paris came along, that particular dream had resurfaced. She was extremely thankful that her husband-to-be liked children as much as she did and was willing to help her start a family.
On the third day since his rescue from the sea, Paris could successfully walk around the room without any help. He was able to keep down solid food, and he begged Helen to sail for Troy the next day. Penelope pronounced him fit to leave so they readied his ship for the voyage home. Paris invited Odysseus and Penelope to their wedding, but they politely declined, not wanting to look suspicious. Odysseus also reasoned that he couldn't stay away from his kingdom home for that long. Helen was disappointed that she wouldn't have any of her friends at the wedding, but she knew it was for the best.
The next morning, Larissa was bouncing with excitement. She couldn't wait to see the land of her mother's origins. But Helen didn't share her fervor; she was too nervous that something would go wrong. She knew that Menelaus would be at the docks to see them off and was afraid that she might slip up somehow. Pulling on a ragged russet dress, she tried to straighten her now-brown curls, but it was impossible. Menelaus wouldn't be looking for a woman with a child, she rationalized. I have nothing to worry about. Helen packed her few possessions that she wanted to bring with her to Troy, and then set off.
Paris was waiting for her at the docks, as were Penelope, Odysseus, Telemachus, the Trojan guards, and, to her dismay, Menelaus. Luckily, Larissa's cheerful demeanor helped her stay in character. Their story was that Paris was offering them passage to return to their home country of Troy. She said her goodbyes to her cousin but all Penelope said was thanking her for being such an excellent nanny to her son. She hugged Odysseus briefly, and he whispered 'good luck'. Everything was going smoothly until she said her goodbyes to Telemachus. He gave her a long squeeze as she held him close.
"Don't go!" he howled as she tried to pass him back to his mother. The anguished little boy didn't want to let Helen go – he didn't understand why his 'Aunt Helen' had to leave.
"Are we ever going to see her again?" he asked his parents between sobs.
"Hopefully we will, if we ever visit Troy," said Penelope truthfully. That did nothing to assuage his fears, and his cries could still be heard as the boat drifted away from the docks. Helen watched Menelaus glance at her, then back to Telemachus. He murmured something to the head of his guards, who nodded, frowning. As soon as they were out of sight, Helen told Paris what she had just witnessed. But he dismissed it as nothing.
"Don't worry so, love," he said, blazing a hot trail down her neck. "Menelaus has no clue what has transpired under his very nose – and even if he did, he cannot do anything about it now." Helen disagreed, but as the sun grew hot, she decided to forget about her old husband and focus on her new life. Smiling, she watched Paris chase Larissa around the deck. She couldn't wait to reach Troy and see her new home that she'd share with Paris.
End Ch. 10
I'm not finished yet! Keep reading and reviewing!