:AN: Lalalalalala! Please Review! Thanks to those of you who have and
please, continue doing so. I love you for it and it's only a kick up the
butt for me to update.
And I want to apologize to those who thought that last chapter was bit action-less. (Wow.. here's Blu, the most articulate of us all.) It was a bit of a transition chapter and a way for me to change Hector's demeanor. But I couldn't just say that he was all nice to Paris for no reason at all! I needed some sort of pivot point and Astraynx's(sp?) conception was used for it.
My Immortal
By BluWine Chapter 08: By Your Resonating Light
"Why did you frown?" Briseis asked Acacius as she helped him put the horses in the stables. "When Paris said Katri was visiting in two days, you frowned. Why?" Acacius proved her point by furrowing his eyebrows and pursing his lips to a tight line.
"I don't think Paris will be seeing Katriana for a VERY long time, Briseis," Acacius answered knowing that the woman before him liked to drop formalities when in private.
"Why?!" Briseis repeated, agitated.
"I have heard from the commanders that Paris should be leaving in two days as well for a half year long trip to Sparta. He should be leaving in the morning so that means he won't get to say goodbye," Acacius replied. Briseis returned the worried expression now.
"Surely, Paris will say no to the request. Not seeing Katriana for six moons? He barely survived two months! And to not even tell her of his leave. I don't think Katri could forgive Paris of that," Briseis said.
"We can only hope that she will because unless she finds out that Paris is leaving soon..." Acacius just shook his head, not wanting the charming, not to mention pretty, young girl he'd been introduced to last night to be hurt by Paris' actions, even if it wasn't his fault.
"Let's go find him then..." Briseis dragged Acacius around, wandering the huge expanse of the palace but never even catching a glimpse or wind of the prince until hours later at supper. Acacius was forced to leave Briseis on her own in her search as he took his post at the main gates. Briseis had tried to reach Paris in the uncommon crowds rushing to try take a seat nearest the king but she couldn't reach her cousin. To her surprise, however, Paris was next to Hector and both were acting civilly towards each other. Both even had smiles on their faces as Priam and Hecuba stood up to start the meal. There must be some announcement that the king was ready to release today.
"Welcome my friends! We have all gathered here today to a reason you know not yet of." A general murmuring went through the crowd. Hector was beaming and he held Andromache's hand in his as he stared proudly at his father. Andromache just blushed under tha gaze of so many.
"... surely not another prince has come... it's about Hector?... What is that woman doing at his side?" the crowd whispered under hushed tones.
"I would like to announce that..." Priam stopped, looking to his son. "Actually Hector? Would you do the honours?" Priam sat down as the proud prince stood up.
"I... I want to announce my betrothal to Andromache of our very own nation of Troy and also..." Hector smiled. The crowd was already aghast at the uncharacteristic decision of their royal 'playboy' and now there was more? "I would like to announce the conception of what the soothsayers believe shall be a son of Troy, the next in line for the throne of Troy."
"A child... a son!.... A wedding!... when?"
"However, I am dismayed to say that I shall be gone for six months of time for the young Prince Paris and I shall be leaving for Sparta in a matter of two days for ambassadorial meetings with their King Menelaus..." Hector turned to Andromache who was smiling up at her fiancè. "But when I return I am hoping to call upon Hera to bless my joining to Andromache." His hand claimed hers as he gestured for her to stand up. The young woman stood up, nervously pushing back her long, wavy brown hair behind her ear. "And now, to start our feast, I shall call upon all of you, our guests, to honour and accept Andromache..." He had raised his goblet of wine as others did the same. Hector's eyes never wavered from hers as his words announced to the world who Andromache was and will be. "My love and future wife. Your future princess and one day, you're Queen."
"Andromache, future princess and queen," the guests repeated and drank to her. Andromache blushed again at all the attention and returned to her seat. Priam smiled and waved for the musicians to begin their playing. The formal atmosphere immediately dissipated and the nobility began their procession to congratulate the prince in his news. Everyone had gathered for Hector but Briseis headed towards Paris. She pushed her way through the people until she found Paris standing away from the crowd, uneasily, but smiling.
"Paris!" Briseis called in relief. "I finally found you!"
"Hector is going to be a father!" Paris laughed. "I've never heard of a more ludicrous idea! But I've been taught to rejoice in such news. I wish them well..." Paris looked down at his wine, his smile turning into a frown, but Briseis didn't take care to notice the change.
"Paris, are you leaving as he said?" Briseis asked.
"Of course," Paris replied. "The King has ordered that I do so. If father wishes it, then I must obey." He shrugged looking back at the line of people waiting to shake Hector's hand.
"What about Katri?"
"Katri?" Paris' frown deepened and then he remembered. He closed his eyes and groaned in frustration. "Katriana! No! In two days!"
"That's what I thought! She won't make it here if the two of you leave in the morning."
"I'm not going to leave without at least saying goodbye... not after..." His eyes replayed their kiss from that afternoon. Paris didn't want to ruin what could be so perfect... what had just begun. "Not after this afternoon."
"I know," Briseis said sympathetically. "You need to get to her before you leave." Paris nodded and walked to Hecuba, standing proudly at the raised platform that held the throne of the king and queen.
"Mother?" Paris called. Hecuba looked down and smiled.
"Paris... Why aren't you with Hector? And what is with this expression? You're brother is to become a father. 'Tis a time for celebrations!" Paris bowed to her in respect and answered her queries.
"Mother, I need to go back to Katri, preferably tonight." Hecuba's face hardened. "If not tonight, then tomorrow. I need to talk to her. She doesn't know I'm leaving. I can't leave without so much as a goodbye."
"Paris, I'm afraid I can not let you go." Paris' face fell in disappointment.
"Why not?"
"You left last night on a whim. You did not return till dusk of today. Now you want to return to Katriana?"
"Well, I HAVE spent the last two months without her," Paris whined.
"And you have spent the last sixteen years without us."
"Tomorrow then!"
"You had studies tomorrow to have you prepared for your trip to Sparta. It's all day and you will not be leaving tomorrow night because you need to rest for the trip. It's a firm no," Hecuba said. With that, she stepped to the nobility gathering into a clique to join their conversation. Paris just glared at the walls in frustration and stormed out, Briseis following. In the emptiness of the halls, Paris began to spout of whining and complaints.
"This is stupid! I never should have said yes! Ah... Zeus! I need to get a message to Katri to get here sooner..." Paris muttered. He looked at Briseis. "Can you bring it to Katri tomorrow?"
"I'm afraid I can not either," Briseis apologized. "I'm due for the temple tonight."
"Then it will be a favour for Acacius." Paris marched off to the main doors and found Acacius at his statin just as he said before.
"My prince!" Acacius acknowledged his superior. He bowed subtly and stood again at attention. "To what do I owe the honour, sire?"
"Acacius, I would like you to deliver a message to Katri. She doesn't know I'm leaving," Paris said. "Can you leave your station and get her a message to come sooner tonight?"
"I am sorry, your highness, but our captain has ordered me to stay at my post for the next twelve hours. It is retribution for the shifts I had not taken while I was on your guard," Acacius replied. "Why do you not take your letter to the messengers of the palace? I'm sure they would be more than willing to oblige to your order."
Paris flushed. Technically, he should have thought of the messengers as the logical servants to follow his request but he knew none of them, having never needed them before. Now that the time called for his acquaintance to any of the messengers, he would have rather hid behind Briseis and let her do the talking for him. He turned to Briseis.
"Bree, can you...?" Paris started.
"Say no more," Briseis laughed, rolling her eyes. She grabbed his arm and started towards the post corridor but before they even reached past the doors of the grand foyer, Hecuba intercepted them, a deep frown creasing her forehead.
"And where are you going?" Hecuba asked. Her arms were folded in front of her and she radiated the power of a queen, crossed.
"To the posts, mother," Paris said, not bothering to lie. "I need to get a message to Katriana that I'm leaving. I need to see her before I leave. Since you refuse to let me go to her, I wish for her to come to me."
Hecuba stood stone silent for a moment, then she took a step to block her son's way, as well as Briseis'. "You're not going..."
"I beg your pardon?" Paris choked, taking a step back.
"You will not see Katriana. In fact, I'm quite ecstatic that you shall be leaving for half a year, not having any contact with her."
"Aunt Hecuba! You can't be serious!"
"As serious as I'll ever be. Now Briseis kindly leave our presence and begin back for the temple." Hecuba's eyes were sharp and demanding, leaving Briseis no choice but to follow the orders.
"Yes, your highness," Briseis murmured, curtsying and then turning away. Paris remained silent, his agitation quickly becoming anger.
"Your highness, you can't possibly think that I'll leave my family for six months without even a goodbye!"
"You're not!" Hecuba shrieked in a low tone. "I am your family. Hector, Briseis, Priam and Cassandra are your family! Katriana and your adoptive mother are good people, Paris, don't mistake my judgement of their characters but they are NOT your family! WE are. It is time that you realize that!"
"I realize that I share your bloodlines but that doesn't mean that those I do not share blood with doesn't count as my people whom I hold dear... And Katriana is more than that to me now!" Hecuba sucked in her breath and Paris hesitated to say some things he never cared to admit out loud before. "Two months without her was Hell for me... I don't want to even imagine what six months will be like, much less the rest of my life..."
Hecuba took hold of pillar to catch herself while her other hand clasped at her chest. "No, Paris. Don't you dare say..."
"I love her..."
"No..." Hecuba said shaking her head furiously.
"I love Katri," Paris repeated grinning but his smile faltered at the slightest. "... and I'll be damned to Hell if I leave without even kissing her goodbye and telling her that."
"No... I will not let you... She is a peasant! Just like her mother before her and her mother before that! Katriana is a commoner," Hecuba spat out. "She is nothing like you and I will not let you have such inappropriate relations with a commoner!"
"Mother, I was naught but a commoner myself, not even three months ago!"
"You were never a commoner! You were always a prince! You just had never known it!"
"Stop it... I need to get to Katriana," Paris snapped, trying to take a step to the side but Hecuba countered the step immediately calling a guard.
"Haemon, take your prince," Hecuba started. Haemon grabbed Paris' arm roughly and try as he may, Paris couldn't get loose. "Put him in his room and make sure he does not leave. Not body enters unless it is myself or your king. Tomorrow you shall escort him to the library and he shall not leave the library unless making for the toilets or his own room, understand?"
"Yes, my Queen..."
"You're putting me under house arrest?!"
"I'm putting you under safe guard until the time is right that you may leave, namely in two days' time when you leave for Sparta," Hecuba snapped. She nodded to Haemon who literally dragged Paris to his cliff-top room. Now, it seemed, Paris realized why the queen was so adamant about giving him the room directly over the cliffs, overlooking the ocean and the jagged rocks below. The other window dropped down hundreds of feet, its walls unclimable for it was made of smooth rock. Now, he had now way of getting out of the palace. With Briseis at the castle and Acacius thinking that the message was already sent, Katri had no way of knowing his plans.
Paris looked out over the towns through the window above the palace walls. He could see out into the wilderness for miles and miles. He squinted thinking that maybe the dot of light in the distance might be Katriana before it disappeared into the darkness. His eyes relaxed and his hands clenched into fists before the muscle and bone hit the rock wall hard.
"I won't leave..." Paris vowed, speaking to the darkness around him. "Not until Katri hears what I have to say..."
The next day was close to something out of a tragedy. At least, that was how it felt like to Paris. He wanted it to slow down, take the smallest steps to get ahead in time but Time had her own ideas. Even the droning voice of Iolaus, the ancient looking tutor, couldn't make it seem like it was taking an eternity to find out about Sparta's pros and cons and what was to be discussed during the upcoming diplomatic arrangements. Hector had sympathized for his brother (He was still feeling romantic and giddy because of his forthcoming fatherhood.) but Paris remained stuck inside, wishing that he didn't have to leave but seconds kept passing away and he was only that much closer to leaving Katriana. Even the night had drifted by without Paris' knowing, though he slept little.
In fact, before Paris knew what was going on, it was daybreak and he was at the docks, sitting on a crate of his belongings, stubbornly refusing to aid in his voyage.
"Paris, get off your hide and help," Hector growled. His previous giddiness was fading away quickly with his mule-ish brother.
"No," Paris retorted simply. His arms were folded obstinately in front of him and he looked up rebelliously at her boatmate. Hector rolled his eyes and looked out to the horizon as if expecting something before shaking his head and continuing his labors. Soon it was done and Paris could do nothing but board the boat, but again he refused.
"Paris!! Get on the damn boat!! NOW!!" Hector was shouting. Paris bit his lip nervously but shook his head again. "Paris!!" Hector threw his hands up in exasperation before looking again in the horizon and relaxing in the most minute quantity. "Why not?"
"Katri..."
"I figured..." Hector rolled his eyes before pointing behind Paris, indifferently. Paris turned and saw Acacius on his horse galloping through the streets making his way towards the two princes on the docks. What made Paris gape was behind the guard, clutching her arms around the guard's waist, was Katri.
"But... no one... no one knew I didn't get her the message..."
"Don't be stupid. Since you told me that Mother had you under house arrest, I've known we were going to have a problem with you," Hector snickered ruefully. "Don't thank me. Andromache was behind all this..." Paris turned to where Andromache was waiting to say good bye to the father of her child and smiled brilliantly to his future sister-in-law. By then, Acacius and Katriana were already upon them. Acacius jumped off and helped Katri get off as well. Paris stepped up and was in front of Katri the moment her feet touched the ground. She looked up and smirked.
"Two days," she greeted, smiling sadly at him.
"Two days," Paris said his own solemn grin on his face. Katri shuffled on her feet.
"Six months?"
"Six months..."
"That long?"
"I'll be back..."
"That long?"
Paris sighed, "I'll be back." An awkward silent befell them interrupted by the proverbial voice inside her head started to advice her in a tone that made Katri worry.
"Kiss him... kiss him now and tell him that every second of the last two days were completely devoted to him and that you love him... kiss him and hold him now before he leaves and never returns to you..."
"Alexander'll be back," she whispered. "He'll come back to Troy..."
"I never said anything about him not returning to Troy. It was to YOU I was speaking of," the voice said sadly.
"What are you..."
"I said do it now!"
Katriana didn't hesitate another second. She stepped up to him grabbing Paris' face and pulling him to meet her lips to his. Her arms wrapped around her neck, keeping him closer. Paris responded with as much ardor as she was showing him and Andromache grinned as she watched from afar. Paris retreated for a moment though his arms remained around her waist.
"I love you..." he whispered dropping kisses everywhere on her face. It was the breaking straw on Katri's back and tears of frustration began to prick at her eyes.
"You said... You just said that..."
"I did..." Paris grinned.
"I... I love you too," she murmured though her smile faltered at something nagging at her heart. "But you're leaving..."
"But I'll be back..." he repeated.
"But you'll forget me..."
"I swear.. Katriana... I SWEAR it. An oath on the waters of the Styx itself... I'll return to you..." Paris promised. "Just please... PLEASE... Wait for me..." Katriana sighed, allowing herself the luxury of holding him, something she won't be able to do in a time span too long for her to think about.
"Until the end of days. Just PLEASE don't forget me..."
"Only when you're here and I wouldn't have the need for your memory..." Katriana laughed before kissing him lightly on the lips again. "I'll return... across the Aegean, I'll return to you guided by your resonating light, which I shall trust to bring me home... Hopefully, you won't get me lost?"
"Cheeky... That was downright supercilious," Katriana chuckled. "Now off with you.. I don't want your tardiness to be the trigger to a war with the mighty Spartans."
"Ahh.. but you know very well that our peace agreements are more for their safety than ours. We can beat them in war in a week... an MONTH tops!"
"Like I said cheeky..." Paris leaned down to kiss her again before being pulled away by Hector.
"I'm sorry Katriana but we must take our leave..."
"Yes.. I know..." Katri nodded and let Paris go. "Six months then?"
"Six months..." Paris nodded, his hand refusing to let her go so now Katri was trailing him through the docks to the ship. "I love you..."
"I love you..." And their hands separated.
Paris remained at the bow of the ship watching just as Katri was watching him at the docks. Then she was gone, the horizon much too far to keep sight of her for any longer. The weeks passed slowly but surely and they reached Sparta just before Paris went crazy in the loneliness of being out in nothing but endless ocean blues.
As he got off the boat, Paris' mind was already racing with the thoughts of what he could buy to return to Katriana. He didn't hear Menelaus greet him. He didn't realize that he answered automatically and politely. He didn't notice that he was being led to the palace. He didn't notice the grand foyer, the corridors or the dining halls. All he saw were memories and stories he could tell and trinkets he could now afford to bring back to the beautiful girl he had left at him, waiting. Paris didn't notice anything until he saw... her.
"Ahh... My Queen..." Menelaus greeted as a young woman of Paris' age but of olive skin, the bluest eyes and with the most golden, silky hair on any woman to grace the earth. "This is Helen, my wife."
Paris stood there shocked thinking surely that he'd never see true beauty till that night... With that, through forces much too powerful for Paris to even comprehend, a promise was fulfilled and any memory concerning his love for Katriana was, literally, gone.
Ahh! I completely forgot thatI would probably incur the wrath of many... Just wanted to clarify something before arrows are shot at me again. He forgets for a reason. It has to do with a promise that I mentioned in the last sentence and if anyone knows the back story to the Iliad then you might get a hint to what I meant. grin
REVIEW, YOU GUYS!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Youkai no Yume = no problems, sandra! Unfortuantely, we're still on here aren't we... Darn it.
drummerchick1988 = Don't go blind, girl! haha
roselynn geigel = Sorry, Helen MUST take a little bit of the spotlight now but don't let it account for not reviewing!
babyg2988 = awww man! I like Hector though! No killing of the noble characters!
me = thank you for complimenting me on my actual writing skills! THANK YOU. And I must confess I have a weakness to for Briseis/Achilles fics.
roselynn geigel = thanks for the reviews as usual!
Nevasaiel = I could NEVER hate your story at all! The only fic I've hated are those that don't finish but I've loved! so you're safe! And I feel like I disappointed you with the last chapter so I hope this one did well.
Larrikin = Poor Katriana would be right.
RC = Thank you for the compliment and the review. They always mean the world to me.
And I want to apologize to those who thought that last chapter was bit action-less. (Wow.. here's Blu, the most articulate of us all.) It was a bit of a transition chapter and a way for me to change Hector's demeanor. But I couldn't just say that he was all nice to Paris for no reason at all! I needed some sort of pivot point and Astraynx's(sp?) conception was used for it.
My Immortal
By BluWine Chapter 08: By Your Resonating Light
"Why did you frown?" Briseis asked Acacius as she helped him put the horses in the stables. "When Paris said Katri was visiting in two days, you frowned. Why?" Acacius proved her point by furrowing his eyebrows and pursing his lips to a tight line.
"I don't think Paris will be seeing Katriana for a VERY long time, Briseis," Acacius answered knowing that the woman before him liked to drop formalities when in private.
"Why?!" Briseis repeated, agitated.
"I have heard from the commanders that Paris should be leaving in two days as well for a half year long trip to Sparta. He should be leaving in the morning so that means he won't get to say goodbye," Acacius replied. Briseis returned the worried expression now.
"Surely, Paris will say no to the request. Not seeing Katriana for six moons? He barely survived two months! And to not even tell her of his leave. I don't think Katri could forgive Paris of that," Briseis said.
"We can only hope that she will because unless she finds out that Paris is leaving soon..." Acacius just shook his head, not wanting the charming, not to mention pretty, young girl he'd been introduced to last night to be hurt by Paris' actions, even if it wasn't his fault.
"Let's go find him then..." Briseis dragged Acacius around, wandering the huge expanse of the palace but never even catching a glimpse or wind of the prince until hours later at supper. Acacius was forced to leave Briseis on her own in her search as he took his post at the main gates. Briseis had tried to reach Paris in the uncommon crowds rushing to try take a seat nearest the king but she couldn't reach her cousin. To her surprise, however, Paris was next to Hector and both were acting civilly towards each other. Both even had smiles on their faces as Priam and Hecuba stood up to start the meal. There must be some announcement that the king was ready to release today.
"Welcome my friends! We have all gathered here today to a reason you know not yet of." A general murmuring went through the crowd. Hector was beaming and he held Andromache's hand in his as he stared proudly at his father. Andromache just blushed under tha gaze of so many.
"... surely not another prince has come... it's about Hector?... What is that woman doing at his side?" the crowd whispered under hushed tones.
"I would like to announce that..." Priam stopped, looking to his son. "Actually Hector? Would you do the honours?" Priam sat down as the proud prince stood up.
"I... I want to announce my betrothal to Andromache of our very own nation of Troy and also..." Hector smiled. The crowd was already aghast at the uncharacteristic decision of their royal 'playboy' and now there was more? "I would like to announce the conception of what the soothsayers believe shall be a son of Troy, the next in line for the throne of Troy."
"A child... a son!.... A wedding!... when?"
"However, I am dismayed to say that I shall be gone for six months of time for the young Prince Paris and I shall be leaving for Sparta in a matter of two days for ambassadorial meetings with their King Menelaus..." Hector turned to Andromache who was smiling up at her fiancè. "But when I return I am hoping to call upon Hera to bless my joining to Andromache." His hand claimed hers as he gestured for her to stand up. The young woman stood up, nervously pushing back her long, wavy brown hair behind her ear. "And now, to start our feast, I shall call upon all of you, our guests, to honour and accept Andromache..." He had raised his goblet of wine as others did the same. Hector's eyes never wavered from hers as his words announced to the world who Andromache was and will be. "My love and future wife. Your future princess and one day, you're Queen."
"Andromache, future princess and queen," the guests repeated and drank to her. Andromache blushed again at all the attention and returned to her seat. Priam smiled and waved for the musicians to begin their playing. The formal atmosphere immediately dissipated and the nobility began their procession to congratulate the prince in his news. Everyone had gathered for Hector but Briseis headed towards Paris. She pushed her way through the people until she found Paris standing away from the crowd, uneasily, but smiling.
"Paris!" Briseis called in relief. "I finally found you!"
"Hector is going to be a father!" Paris laughed. "I've never heard of a more ludicrous idea! But I've been taught to rejoice in such news. I wish them well..." Paris looked down at his wine, his smile turning into a frown, but Briseis didn't take care to notice the change.
"Paris, are you leaving as he said?" Briseis asked.
"Of course," Paris replied. "The King has ordered that I do so. If father wishes it, then I must obey." He shrugged looking back at the line of people waiting to shake Hector's hand.
"What about Katri?"
"Katri?" Paris' frown deepened and then he remembered. He closed his eyes and groaned in frustration. "Katriana! No! In two days!"
"That's what I thought! She won't make it here if the two of you leave in the morning."
"I'm not going to leave without at least saying goodbye... not after..." His eyes replayed their kiss from that afternoon. Paris didn't want to ruin what could be so perfect... what had just begun. "Not after this afternoon."
"I know," Briseis said sympathetically. "You need to get to her before you leave." Paris nodded and walked to Hecuba, standing proudly at the raised platform that held the throne of the king and queen.
"Mother?" Paris called. Hecuba looked down and smiled.
"Paris... Why aren't you with Hector? And what is with this expression? You're brother is to become a father. 'Tis a time for celebrations!" Paris bowed to her in respect and answered her queries.
"Mother, I need to go back to Katri, preferably tonight." Hecuba's face hardened. "If not tonight, then tomorrow. I need to talk to her. She doesn't know I'm leaving. I can't leave without so much as a goodbye."
"Paris, I'm afraid I can not let you go." Paris' face fell in disappointment.
"Why not?"
"You left last night on a whim. You did not return till dusk of today. Now you want to return to Katriana?"
"Well, I HAVE spent the last two months without her," Paris whined.
"And you have spent the last sixteen years without us."
"Tomorrow then!"
"You had studies tomorrow to have you prepared for your trip to Sparta. It's all day and you will not be leaving tomorrow night because you need to rest for the trip. It's a firm no," Hecuba said. With that, she stepped to the nobility gathering into a clique to join their conversation. Paris just glared at the walls in frustration and stormed out, Briseis following. In the emptiness of the halls, Paris began to spout of whining and complaints.
"This is stupid! I never should have said yes! Ah... Zeus! I need to get a message to Katri to get here sooner..." Paris muttered. He looked at Briseis. "Can you bring it to Katri tomorrow?"
"I'm afraid I can not either," Briseis apologized. "I'm due for the temple tonight."
"Then it will be a favour for Acacius." Paris marched off to the main doors and found Acacius at his statin just as he said before.
"My prince!" Acacius acknowledged his superior. He bowed subtly and stood again at attention. "To what do I owe the honour, sire?"
"Acacius, I would like you to deliver a message to Katri. She doesn't know I'm leaving," Paris said. "Can you leave your station and get her a message to come sooner tonight?"
"I am sorry, your highness, but our captain has ordered me to stay at my post for the next twelve hours. It is retribution for the shifts I had not taken while I was on your guard," Acacius replied. "Why do you not take your letter to the messengers of the palace? I'm sure they would be more than willing to oblige to your order."
Paris flushed. Technically, he should have thought of the messengers as the logical servants to follow his request but he knew none of them, having never needed them before. Now that the time called for his acquaintance to any of the messengers, he would have rather hid behind Briseis and let her do the talking for him. He turned to Briseis.
"Bree, can you...?" Paris started.
"Say no more," Briseis laughed, rolling her eyes. She grabbed his arm and started towards the post corridor but before they even reached past the doors of the grand foyer, Hecuba intercepted them, a deep frown creasing her forehead.
"And where are you going?" Hecuba asked. Her arms were folded in front of her and she radiated the power of a queen, crossed.
"To the posts, mother," Paris said, not bothering to lie. "I need to get a message to Katriana that I'm leaving. I need to see her before I leave. Since you refuse to let me go to her, I wish for her to come to me."
Hecuba stood stone silent for a moment, then she took a step to block her son's way, as well as Briseis'. "You're not going..."
"I beg your pardon?" Paris choked, taking a step back.
"You will not see Katriana. In fact, I'm quite ecstatic that you shall be leaving for half a year, not having any contact with her."
"Aunt Hecuba! You can't be serious!"
"As serious as I'll ever be. Now Briseis kindly leave our presence and begin back for the temple." Hecuba's eyes were sharp and demanding, leaving Briseis no choice but to follow the orders.
"Yes, your highness," Briseis murmured, curtsying and then turning away. Paris remained silent, his agitation quickly becoming anger.
"Your highness, you can't possibly think that I'll leave my family for six months without even a goodbye!"
"You're not!" Hecuba shrieked in a low tone. "I am your family. Hector, Briseis, Priam and Cassandra are your family! Katriana and your adoptive mother are good people, Paris, don't mistake my judgement of their characters but they are NOT your family! WE are. It is time that you realize that!"
"I realize that I share your bloodlines but that doesn't mean that those I do not share blood with doesn't count as my people whom I hold dear... And Katriana is more than that to me now!" Hecuba sucked in her breath and Paris hesitated to say some things he never cared to admit out loud before. "Two months without her was Hell for me... I don't want to even imagine what six months will be like, much less the rest of my life..."
Hecuba took hold of pillar to catch herself while her other hand clasped at her chest. "No, Paris. Don't you dare say..."
"I love her..."
"No..." Hecuba said shaking her head furiously.
"I love Katri," Paris repeated grinning but his smile faltered at the slightest. "... and I'll be damned to Hell if I leave without even kissing her goodbye and telling her that."
"No... I will not let you... She is a peasant! Just like her mother before her and her mother before that! Katriana is a commoner," Hecuba spat out. "She is nothing like you and I will not let you have such inappropriate relations with a commoner!"
"Mother, I was naught but a commoner myself, not even three months ago!"
"You were never a commoner! You were always a prince! You just had never known it!"
"Stop it... I need to get to Katriana," Paris snapped, trying to take a step to the side but Hecuba countered the step immediately calling a guard.
"Haemon, take your prince," Hecuba started. Haemon grabbed Paris' arm roughly and try as he may, Paris couldn't get loose. "Put him in his room and make sure he does not leave. Not body enters unless it is myself or your king. Tomorrow you shall escort him to the library and he shall not leave the library unless making for the toilets or his own room, understand?"
"Yes, my Queen..."
"You're putting me under house arrest?!"
"I'm putting you under safe guard until the time is right that you may leave, namely in two days' time when you leave for Sparta," Hecuba snapped. She nodded to Haemon who literally dragged Paris to his cliff-top room. Now, it seemed, Paris realized why the queen was so adamant about giving him the room directly over the cliffs, overlooking the ocean and the jagged rocks below. The other window dropped down hundreds of feet, its walls unclimable for it was made of smooth rock. Now, he had now way of getting out of the palace. With Briseis at the castle and Acacius thinking that the message was already sent, Katri had no way of knowing his plans.
Paris looked out over the towns through the window above the palace walls. He could see out into the wilderness for miles and miles. He squinted thinking that maybe the dot of light in the distance might be Katriana before it disappeared into the darkness. His eyes relaxed and his hands clenched into fists before the muscle and bone hit the rock wall hard.
"I won't leave..." Paris vowed, speaking to the darkness around him. "Not until Katri hears what I have to say..."
The next day was close to something out of a tragedy. At least, that was how it felt like to Paris. He wanted it to slow down, take the smallest steps to get ahead in time but Time had her own ideas. Even the droning voice of Iolaus, the ancient looking tutor, couldn't make it seem like it was taking an eternity to find out about Sparta's pros and cons and what was to be discussed during the upcoming diplomatic arrangements. Hector had sympathized for his brother (He was still feeling romantic and giddy because of his forthcoming fatherhood.) but Paris remained stuck inside, wishing that he didn't have to leave but seconds kept passing away and he was only that much closer to leaving Katriana. Even the night had drifted by without Paris' knowing, though he slept little.
In fact, before Paris knew what was going on, it was daybreak and he was at the docks, sitting on a crate of his belongings, stubbornly refusing to aid in his voyage.
"Paris, get off your hide and help," Hector growled. His previous giddiness was fading away quickly with his mule-ish brother.
"No," Paris retorted simply. His arms were folded obstinately in front of him and he looked up rebelliously at her boatmate. Hector rolled his eyes and looked out to the horizon as if expecting something before shaking his head and continuing his labors. Soon it was done and Paris could do nothing but board the boat, but again he refused.
"Paris!! Get on the damn boat!! NOW!!" Hector was shouting. Paris bit his lip nervously but shook his head again. "Paris!!" Hector threw his hands up in exasperation before looking again in the horizon and relaxing in the most minute quantity. "Why not?"
"Katri..."
"I figured..." Hector rolled his eyes before pointing behind Paris, indifferently. Paris turned and saw Acacius on his horse galloping through the streets making his way towards the two princes on the docks. What made Paris gape was behind the guard, clutching her arms around the guard's waist, was Katri.
"But... no one... no one knew I didn't get her the message..."
"Don't be stupid. Since you told me that Mother had you under house arrest, I've known we were going to have a problem with you," Hector snickered ruefully. "Don't thank me. Andromache was behind all this..." Paris turned to where Andromache was waiting to say good bye to the father of her child and smiled brilliantly to his future sister-in-law. By then, Acacius and Katriana were already upon them. Acacius jumped off and helped Katri get off as well. Paris stepped up and was in front of Katri the moment her feet touched the ground. She looked up and smirked.
"Two days," she greeted, smiling sadly at him.
"Two days," Paris said his own solemn grin on his face. Katri shuffled on her feet.
"Six months?"
"Six months..."
"That long?"
"I'll be back..."
"That long?"
Paris sighed, "I'll be back." An awkward silent befell them interrupted by the proverbial voice inside her head started to advice her in a tone that made Katri worry.
"Kiss him... kiss him now and tell him that every second of the last two days were completely devoted to him and that you love him... kiss him and hold him now before he leaves and never returns to you..."
"Alexander'll be back," she whispered. "He'll come back to Troy..."
"I never said anything about him not returning to Troy. It was to YOU I was speaking of," the voice said sadly.
"What are you..."
"I said do it now!"
Katriana didn't hesitate another second. She stepped up to him grabbing Paris' face and pulling him to meet her lips to his. Her arms wrapped around her neck, keeping him closer. Paris responded with as much ardor as she was showing him and Andromache grinned as she watched from afar. Paris retreated for a moment though his arms remained around her waist.
"I love you..." he whispered dropping kisses everywhere on her face. It was the breaking straw on Katri's back and tears of frustration began to prick at her eyes.
"You said... You just said that..."
"I did..." Paris grinned.
"I... I love you too," she murmured though her smile faltered at something nagging at her heart. "But you're leaving..."
"But I'll be back..." he repeated.
"But you'll forget me..."
"I swear.. Katriana... I SWEAR it. An oath on the waters of the Styx itself... I'll return to you..." Paris promised. "Just please... PLEASE... Wait for me..." Katriana sighed, allowing herself the luxury of holding him, something she won't be able to do in a time span too long for her to think about.
"Until the end of days. Just PLEASE don't forget me..."
"Only when you're here and I wouldn't have the need for your memory..." Katriana laughed before kissing him lightly on the lips again. "I'll return... across the Aegean, I'll return to you guided by your resonating light, which I shall trust to bring me home... Hopefully, you won't get me lost?"
"Cheeky... That was downright supercilious," Katriana chuckled. "Now off with you.. I don't want your tardiness to be the trigger to a war with the mighty Spartans."
"Ahh.. but you know very well that our peace agreements are more for their safety than ours. We can beat them in war in a week... an MONTH tops!"
"Like I said cheeky..." Paris leaned down to kiss her again before being pulled away by Hector.
"I'm sorry Katriana but we must take our leave..."
"Yes.. I know..." Katri nodded and let Paris go. "Six months then?"
"Six months..." Paris nodded, his hand refusing to let her go so now Katri was trailing him through the docks to the ship. "I love you..."
"I love you..." And their hands separated.
Paris remained at the bow of the ship watching just as Katri was watching him at the docks. Then she was gone, the horizon much too far to keep sight of her for any longer. The weeks passed slowly but surely and they reached Sparta just before Paris went crazy in the loneliness of being out in nothing but endless ocean blues.
As he got off the boat, Paris' mind was already racing with the thoughts of what he could buy to return to Katriana. He didn't hear Menelaus greet him. He didn't realize that he answered automatically and politely. He didn't notice that he was being led to the palace. He didn't notice the grand foyer, the corridors or the dining halls. All he saw were memories and stories he could tell and trinkets he could now afford to bring back to the beautiful girl he had left at him, waiting. Paris didn't notice anything until he saw... her.
"Ahh... My Queen..." Menelaus greeted as a young woman of Paris' age but of olive skin, the bluest eyes and with the most golden, silky hair on any woman to grace the earth. "This is Helen, my wife."
Paris stood there shocked thinking surely that he'd never see true beauty till that night... With that, through forces much too powerful for Paris to even comprehend, a promise was fulfilled and any memory concerning his love for Katriana was, literally, gone.
Ahh! I completely forgot thatI would probably incur the wrath of many... Just wanted to clarify something before arrows are shot at me again. He forgets for a reason. It has to do with a promise that I mentioned in the last sentence and if anyone knows the back story to the Iliad then you might get a hint to what I meant. grin
REVIEW, YOU GUYS!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Youkai no Yume = no problems, sandra! Unfortuantely, we're still on here aren't we... Darn it.
drummerchick1988 = Don't go blind, girl! haha
roselynn geigel = Sorry, Helen MUST take a little bit of the spotlight now but don't let it account for not reviewing!
babyg2988 = awww man! I like Hector though! No killing of the noble characters!
me = thank you for complimenting me on my actual writing skills! THANK YOU. And I must confess I have a weakness to for Briseis/Achilles fics.
roselynn geigel = thanks for the reviews as usual!
Nevasaiel = I could NEVER hate your story at all! The only fic I've hated are those that don't finish but I've loved! so you're safe! And I feel like I disappointed you with the last chapter so I hope this one did well.
Larrikin = Poor Katriana would be right.
RC = Thank you for the compliment and the review. They always mean the world to me.