Author's Note:
Hello! Finally, I wrote up another chapter! I'm so sorry it took an age to update but I was extremely busy. Preparing for and sitting final exams (which came through with great results) and I'm off to university this year so there has been much organising. Thanks for staying with me on this fic though, I really appreciate your loyalty to this fic and for keeping on at me to update. I need some motivation sometimes to hunt down my muse. Love to all who reviewed and stayed with me consistantly throughout the journey: Luthien, Gaslight, IluvKai, GaBo0, Lady Bush, Freakazoid and Goldensong! There are many more but these were the names that came up most for reviews! I thank you all! I hope you'll all consider adding another review! :) Love Balrog Pimp
Chapter 5:
Odysseus strode into the council tent with the last of the remaining lords and kings and tried to inconspicuously brush the sand from his cloak caused by his recent tumble with Prince Hector. He took the supper that was offered to him by a Trojan slave girl captured from the war and thanked her politely. He was ravenously hungry, he had forgotten to take a meal that day with all that was on his mind, but it did not do well for a king, however humble, to be seen ripping into his meat like a beggar.
He hardly listened at all to the news at the council. Their news was unimportant to him and their plans ill advised with the new information he possessed. Yet he stayed faithful to Hector and did not openly give his thoughts to the council for open discussion at this time. Better to find an alibi for where these new plans for the Trojan advance came from. Looking about the room, Odysseus kept his ears open to the voice of King Agamemnon (in case his voice was asked for) and his eyes and mind alert for anything that could add him in conceiving a plan to reveal this deadly information.
His gaze alighted on Diomedes, his trusted friend and ally in war. Rapidly the cogs of Odysseus mind began to turn, foreseeing every possible situation, making judgement and evaluating each outcome. No matter what road he took, Diomedes would play an integral part in the paving of it.
…
"Odysseus! So glad to see you my friend! Come in, come in!"
The man addressed, grinned broadly as he was greeted warmly and invited to enter the large and cosy tent of Diomedes.
"We were just about to celebrate my victory with a little wine! Would you care to say the prayers and first offer libations to the almighty Aphrodite?" he continued as his companions jovially poured wine into a bronze basin.
"You're still going on about your advantage over the Love Goddess, are you Diomedes? Nothing good will come of it if you continue in this disgraceful manner!" Odysseus scolded him in good humour.
"I have the protection of a much greater Goddess than the one currently serving Troy, and little good it does them too with our victories of late. Aphrodite seems to be more of a liability to this country! Athena blessed me that day and still her hand guides me each day to exact revenge for our righteous cause!" Diomedes continued brazenly.
"Diomedes, I do believe that you had started the celebrations well before my arrival!" Odysseus laughed as his friend's lips were well loosed by alcohol enough to insult a god, even Aphrodite in such a manner.
"Than you shall have to join me in my victory! We shall have Troy yet, and when that day comes, Aeneas will not be running to his mother for safety!"
Odysseus joined the other men in their merriment, patiently waiting the time when all the others would leave he and Diomedes to have a talk in private. He tolerated the drink and in fact encouraged Diomedes to drink some more, for what he was about to tell him would be assisted by the drink and make the conversation more hazy to Diomedes about what exactely happened so that he would readily accept anything Odysseus told him. Diomedes was not as intuitive as Odysseus but he was no fool and his suspicions could be easily aroused were he given a reason to disbelieve something. Finally all Diomedes companions had taken their leave from their captain and Odysseus was left to speak to Diomedes freely.
"I have come to express some of my concerns to you, Diomedes."
"Concerns? What of them?" Diomedes said in an offhand tone.
"Do you feel that we have been given the advantage? Lulled into a false sense of security by the Trojans? That this is but the calm before the storm?"
"Hah! You are much too shrewd, Odysseus. Verging on paranoia even," Diomedes laughed. "Often I have relied on this sixth sense for trouble of yours but this time I feel your thoughts are misplaced. The Trojans are weakening. Do you doubt the strength of our own Greek army?" Diomedes brow was furrowed with question, but his lips curved up into a contemptuous smirk.
"Beware, Diomedes. Self-confidence in your own ability is a necessity to be successful in war but it may also be the key to your downfall. I say this not to offend you, but to warn you as a friend and trusted councillor." Odysseus caught Diomedes' arm; forcing him to meet his gaze; playing his voice full of conviction as he warned him of the plight he made him believe he was in. "Do you think it chance that Hector's presence has been missed of late upon the battlefield? Do you think the gods and Father Zeus will stand for your attack upon his fair daughter, despite being granted the opportunity by his other much loved child? Nay. Is it not the way of the gods to play we men like pawns? To toss us like small stones upon a rough sea, watching us skip five, six, ten times before sinking to death and despair? I do not say for you to doubt the gods and their purposes, Diomedes, but I do caution you to be more wary of their intent."
Diomedes eyes widened as Odysseus' harsh but truth-filled words hit home.
"You truly suspect that the Trojans are up to something," Diomedes began, being one do never dismiss the advice of a friend, "what should we do about it then?" he continued falling into Odysseus plans perfectly.
"I have already considered what we should do. I was planning on going to Troy myself to spy upon and try and gain some information from the troops," Odysseus replied. "I'm telling you this because I trust you with this information. The other King's would most certainly try to stop me if they knew but you are my friend and I know I must do this."
"Odysseus, it is a fool-errand," Diomedes said shaking his head.
"Well, then it is a lucky thing I'm not a fool then. I was planning on going tonight…"
"I'll come with you," Diomedes said.
"No you will not. I thought I could trust you to be satisfied with the knowledge of my errand only." Odysseus thought he'd find it hard to get away without an argument.
"And I thought I could trust you to know me better. You can't stop me Odysseus; I'm coming with you. At least to the Scaean Gate." Diomedes continued stubbornly, a wicked gleam in his eye. Odysseus knew he liked this man for a reason.
"Very well, but only to the Scaean Gate, then you return to camp. Is that clear?" Odysseus said resignedly, getting up and turning to lead the way back to his own tent.
"Whatever you say. Honestly Odysseus, you can't expect me to let you go by yourself? You really need to care for yourself better, my friend."
Odysseus felt a warm rush at the last words of Diomedes.
….
Hector sat with his a small group of his closest friends in the garden reserved for his own private use behind his home which he had inherited due to his position as the King's Heir. A large outdoor clay oven was burning, giving a bright glow and warmth to the men seated near to it. Sitting slightly apart to those gathered Hector was content to listen to the jovial conversation of his friends as he looked upon the night sky and remembering the names of the celestial bodies which roamed there; many named for each of his great forefathers of legend.
"Some more wine, Hector?" Aeneas questioned, holding forth a goblet in front of his nose.
Hector didn't take his eyes from the sky above him, but smiled in acknowledgement of the offer. "No thank you, Aeneas."
"You're awfully quiet tonight. Is ought amiss?" Aeneas continued, noticing the far-away look in Hector's gaze and the invisible weight was pressing down on those broad shoulders more noticeably than other nights.
"Other than we are fighting a war that is not ours?" Hector tilted his head slightly to grin ruefully, then he glanced past Aeneas to see Pisander rolling on the ground at Taltar's feet. "Well at least some people can enjoy themselves these days," he said, but the amusement was evident on the Prince's weary face.
Aeneas smiled, glad that Pisander had unwittingly brought some cheer to his brother-in-law's day. "I must apologise, I fear Pisander has had more than his fair share of your wine. I should have rescued it from him sooner. Are you sure you do not want some, Brother?"
"Not tonight…" once again Hector turned to look above him. Aeneas waited to see if he would speak again, he was not disappointed. "I was seeking council from my Sires," Hector admitted unashamedly.
"That doesn't sound like you! Why, just the other day you challenged Laocoon for his faith in the stars to seek an end to this war," Aeneas challenged him with surprise.
"My problems lie not with war at this time," replied Hector, with a certain finality which told Aeneas beyond any doubt that this topic was no longer open for discussion.
Aeneas watched sadly as he knew that whatever was hurting his brother-in-arms and by law, he was unable to help and nor was he welcome too. It hurt to feel so useless now that Hector had fully removed himself from contact with him and the other two, who were now clowning around, and reacquainted himself with communing with the Heavens. Aeneas reached out an arm and caressed Hector's cheek with the back of his hand.
"I'll be here… whenever you need me, Brother."
…
Odysseus crept along the dark streets of Troy. He kept close to the tall walls, relying on their shadow to keep him out of the brightness of the crescent moon. Always a master of disguise and deception he had easily entered Troy; none believing the enemy bold or just plain stupid enough to enter the impassable fortress-like city in such an obvious fashion as through the front door. He was swathed in dark and tatty robes of brown canvas and wore an overly large felt hat on his head, which drooped over his eyes and covered his now filthy mud-encrusted hair. He stooped low, like a poor and ageing farmer and spoke not the guards who let the old man pass through without question. For why should an old farmer speak to guards protecting the city he 'lived' in? They hadn't even asked why he was out so late. Odysseus reminded himself to talk to Hector of the slack performance of the guards on duty in such dire times as war.
He had worked his way through the empty streets to the towering palace of King Priam and sidled through its rich and broad walkways unheeded by any in the darkness he occupied. He was looking for the Heir's apartments. He had been to Troy before, during a now distant time of peace and he had been a welcomed guest to the city so he located Hector's home easily. Once entering the city, Odysseus had been overcome with the idea to actually see Hector. This was a risk he would usually have never have taken but so strong desire to catch a glimpse of the powerful and handsome Trojan that he had extended his trip to Troy to find him. He had left Diomedes safely back near the walls of Troy with the promise that he had allowed him to come as far as he did and to wait for him at the upturned chariot where he had first met Prince Hector.
He actually first found Hector's home when he came across a warm, red light spilling through a gap between a high wall and a tall, thick hedge bordering what appeared to be Hector's private garden. He crawled into the hedge and peered through the dense foliage to see a small group of high-ranking men enjoying the pleasure of wine near sitting on the shallow marble steps of the porch, descending into the spacious and absolutely break-taking garden. The group was made up of Pisander, Taltar, Aeneas and the most lordly, high-ranking and the most beautiful (to Odysseus' eye) was Prince Hector. He was godly in his might and majesty even as he sat upon the steps of his own garden, looking to the stars, as any mortal man. He was sitting to the side and not participating in the conversation it seemed. The other three, however, were enjoying his hospitality and making light of each other's ability in combat. It seemed that Aeneas was the one bearing the brunt of his comrades teasing at this moment.
"And you Aeneas! You had to rescued by your Mother!" Pisander continued and howled with laughter.
Aeneas blushed heavily as it seemed that Pisander had perhaps gone a little too far this time and had unwittingly damaged the younger man's pride. Taltar, the oldest warrior of the three, came to Aeneas' aid.
" Now, now, Pisander, you would do well not to mock one who is blessed by the Gods," Taltar said removing the half-empty cup from Pisander's hand and setting it on the green lawn beside him. "Perhaps it is time to turn in for the night?"
"I wish my Mumma would come and protect me!" Pisander started up laughing again, ignoring the memory of disgrace on his friend's face. "Or at least one God to showed me any grace or favour!"
"Unfortunately my friend, the God's do not favour those who laugh at other's misfortunes like a dessert jackal," Taltar said lightly. This caused Aeneas to brighten at the humorous comparison between the inebriated man next to him and the wild dogs whose wild howls really did sound a great deal like Pisander's unchecked laughter. Odysseus had to stifle his own laughter at this as and Pisander began to play up to them as he threw up his head an let off a high pitched howl that ended in a yelp as he was grabbed simultaneously by both Taltar and Aeneas in a desperate effort to shut him up at this time of night. He was also silence by Pisander's next comment.
"Well, you want to know jackal? I'm not half the jackal as Odysseus of Ithica. Or should I say the Fox of Ithica, as he is more widely known."
"Now there's a bigger jackal than you, Pisander!" agreed Taltar, nodding his head. "There can be no slier dog out there than that man who rules that piece of rock."
Odysseus bristled slightly at that last statement. Ithica wasn't just some 'piece of rock' it was his home, where he'd been born and raised and now ruled as King.
"If there's something worthwhile going for him though," Taltar continued, "it's that mind of his. His cunning intellect which he disguises behind a mask of many faces. I played a game of chance with him once when he was here last as a friend. He cheated, and then lied about it too. He's a cheat, a liar and a thief!"
"You're the liar. I didn't cheat you sore looser, you were too drunk to take the game for a game," Odysseus grumbled under his breath. Looking over slightly to the side of Aeneas who had now joined in, he saw that Hector had once more being drawn back into the conversation and to Odysseus' horror it appeared that he was listening intently with a look on his face that for the first time was hard to Odysseus to translate.
"He's the one we're going to have to watch out for," Aeneas added, "He's an actor, that's all, all he does is act and pretend. There is nothing genuine about him. And the worse thing is he uses people. He uses the trust he builds up in other's to meet his own ends. If I were his mother and knew him for what he was I still wouldn't trust him," Aeneas went on with conviction.
"I've seen him on the battlefield, he fight's dirty," Pisander muttered, adding his piece.
'This is outrageous!' Odysseus thought to him, 'how can they defile me in such a disgraceful manner?'
"A manipulative little fox, that's all he is. And a carrion feeder too, hiding behind his men and weakly following his Master Agamemnon to war every time he calls his little dog to heel," Taltar concluded.
It was then that Hector stood up and calmly excused himself. His expression painfully unreadable to Odysseus' eyes. He couldn't possibly believe them. Could he?
Odysseus felt that it was about time to return to camp. Backing up slightly, so that he could turn and face the way he had entered the hedge to look out for guards, he felt his back touch a warm body behind him and a hand suddenly clamp down over his mouth. Odysseus froze but thankfully a familiar but surprising voice spoke behind him
"Sometimes soldiers just say the meanest things about their enemies just to give themselves a moral excuse to kill someone. You know that. Besides I know it's not true," Diomedes said, now removing his hand from Odysseus mouth.
"Diomedes!" Odysseus rounded on him with a fierce whisper, "What the Hell are you doing here? I told you to wait for me by the chariot!"
Diomedes gave him a feral grin, "You're so greedy Ody, getting all the reckless missions to yourself! I followed you in. Lazy guards, huh?"
"Diomedes, you… you!" Odysseus sighed, "You know you're the only one fool enough to make me look like an utter fool?"
"It had to happen sometime, but guess what I found!" Here Diomedes picked up something lying at his side. It was a small golden statue and obviously heavy for he required both hands to lift it from its position in the dirt. "It got kinda boring watching you hide in a bush so I decided to do a bit of 'shopping' round Troy. Didn't think I'd manage to get much out of it once we completely destroy it and all," Diomedes smiled proudly.
"Where did you get it?" Odysseus asked hastily, he swore he remembered seeing it awhile ago somewhere in the city.
"Athena's Temple. Or Minerva as they like to call her. Minerva. It is Minerva right?" Diomedes questioned.
"You idiot!" hissed Odysseus snatching the small statue from Diomedes hands, "Do you know what you have done?"
"Other than anger the Trojan population and knock their morale down a notch or two? No, what have I done?"
"You ass! You stained her virgin headband with your filthy mortal blood! How do think the gods will favour the Greeks now, Diomedes? This personal insult against the Greeks strongest supporter?! Did I not warn you before about the wrath of the gods? I could kill you for your insolence and stupidity!" Odysseus roared with as much rage as he could pack into the quietest of whispers.
Diomedes choked with terror, "I'm sorry, my Goddess! Heaven hear me I am so sorry! Oh help me, Odysseus what will we do?" Diomedes trembled and though Odysseus glared at him harshly, he felt some pity for the cocky fool.
"Come, we must get out of here! Before they notice the crime!" Odysseus grabbed Diomedes who at least had taken care to wrap himself up and disguise himself in a cloak of his own. "We cannot replace it now, what's done is done. Come, let's leave now."
"But how? The guard will never let us out again."
"Then a suitable ruse. If there was one thing Taltar said that was right about me was my ability to improvise when at need. We are brothers, leaving the city with our goatherd to our homeland before we are utterly destroyed by war. We are leaving tonight. Take the statue and wrap it up in cloth, that will be the goat feed. Then we walk out of here without a problem."
"One problem, how do we walk out of here with goats when we don't have any?" Diomedes asked.
"Yes, it is true, we don't 'own' any goats. But someone else does and we will merely 'borrow' them for a evening or two."
Diomedes grinned wolfishly. "Perhaps we should also say that we intend to take 'our' wine with us as well to accompany the goats?"
"No, no, Diomedes, that would not do! I'm sure those drunken gentlemen, Taltar, Pisander and Aeneas will miss it if we take some. No, let them drink – the bastards," Odysseus growled, still maddened at the earlier comments made about his person.
Later that night, two unwitting guards admitted two elderly brothers to pass through the gate of Troy with their goats to return home to camp for a choice meal of Trojan goat.
TBC
Note: I got the whole stealing the statue thing from reading the Aeneid in Classics this year at school (horray for me! I got Classics Prize at Prizegiving at the end of the year - so watching and reading about hot Greek and Trojan guys does come in handy!)
Sorry again for making you all wait for so long and sorry this chapter has no lovin' in it, itsjust really a chapter to set up other events but thank you to have the patience to wait and to nag me for so long! I'm really really glad you did! Love Balrog Pimp xxx