Chapter 2: Ambush in Epirus

There were two men in armor, both wielding a spear and a bronze shield. They were standing before the gates to the city, facing each other.

"I have seen this moment in my dreams." One of the men began. "I'll make a pact with you. With the gods as our witnesses, let us pledge that whoever wins will allow the loser all the proper funeral rituals."

"There are no pacts between lions and men." The other said. He took his helmet from his head and threw it away. "Now you know who you're fighting."

The first man did the same with his helmet. "I thought it was you I was fighting yesterday and I wish it had been you, but I gave the dead boy the honor he deserved."

"You gave him the honor of your sword." The second said angrily. "You won't have eyes tonight. You won't have ears or a tongue. You'll wonder the underworld, blind, deaf, and dumb, and all the dead will know: this is Hector, the man who thought he killed Achilles."

Achilles lifted his spear and charged at Hector. Hector dodged his foe's spear and swiped at him. Achilles blocked this strike with his shield. When Hector attacked again with his spear, Achilles caught it between his shield and the ground and broke it in two. Hector fell back, blocking all of Achilles' spear strikes with his shield. He caught Achilles' spear between his arm and his shield and broke it too. Achilles drew his bronze sword and continued to strike at Hector's shield. Hector waited for a moment and, when Achilles was close enough, he drew his own sword and slashed at Achilles, causing a large mark on Achilles' chest armor. Achilles attacked Hector again and forced Hector to fall backward. He tripped on a small stone and fell to the ground, dropping his shield in the process.

"Get up, Prince of Troy. Get up!" Achilles told him as his threw away his own shield. "I won't let a stone take my glory."

Hector picked up his sword and the top part of a spear. He rose and attacked Achilles, attempting to strike him ceaselessly. Achilles grabbed the spear out of Hector's hand. Hector tried to defend himself but he was too exhausted to fight anymore. Achilles stabbed him in the shoulder. Hector looked at Achilles and saw that Achilles was no longer there. A robed and hooded man had taken his place. He had a wand pointing at his throat. His face was long and ugly. A face of terror.

He smiled. "Avada Kedavra!"

A green light shot out of the wand and struck Hector. "Aaaaah!"

"Aaaaah!"

The man awoke with a start. "Another dream. When will they stop haunting me?" he thought.

The man's real name was Scamandrius, but people of Troy nicknamed him Astyanax, because he was the son of Hector. Most people, but for a few exceptions, believed he was dead. This was mainly due to the fact that Homer, one of the few people who knew the truth of Astyanax's fate, had told that Astyanax was killed during the sack of Troy by Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, by being thrown from the walls of Troy. Neoptolemus also told his mother, Andromache, "Since my father (Achilles) killed his father (Hector) he might try to avenge the death. He also could become King of Troy, and we want no more kings of Troy!" These were actually Astyanax's own words to Homer for him to tell.

Alexander, as those who met Astyanax these days knew him as, had been having the same dream for a long time now.

He looked at the sky above him. The sun was up, but the cloud cover was so dense that it looked like it was early evening.

He was traveling through the country of Albania, traveling on foot from Budapest, Hungary, to Athens, Greece, with no real purpose. He had been wondering the world for over 3000 years, with no aim and no direction. He was lost. Far more lost than many other people.

This land was once called Epirus. Land of King Pyrrhus the Great, cousin of Alexander the Great. In ancient times Epirus was the mountainous coastal region bordered by Illyria, Macedonia and Thessaly. To the south was Aetolia. Epirus was separated from Illyria to the north by the Ceraunian Mountains, and by the Pindus River. The Acheron river, which was believed by ancient greeks as a river of Hades, flowed through this region, and, also in this region, stood the oak grove of Dodona, sacred to Zeus and famous for its oracles.

Astyanax decided to pack up and start moving to get a good amount of distance over with today. As he packed all of his belongings into his pack, he thought of the dream and what it might mean. Maybe he might go to Dodona to consult the oracle there.

As he pulled on his armor, which he had received from his father many years before, he heard someone approaching. He hid behind a bush to see who it might be.

"Oh, no. Which way is it?"

It was a woman who was wearing the most unusual clothing. Unusual, but familiar. She seemed lost because she was looking in all directions for a way to someplace.

Astyanax decided to help her. "Are you lost?"

The woman was startled by this voice behind her. "Oh, sorry. Yes, I am." The man she was talking to looked very odd. His cloth was poor and he was wearing armor that looked like it belonged in this area 2000 years before and what looked like a skirt. He carried a sword, a shield, and what looked like a hunting horn.

"Where are you headed?" The man asked her.

"I am trying to get to Elbasan. I am going to visit my cousin." The woman replied.

"Elbasan? That is about 50 miles to the northeast. Come. I'll bring you there."

'I have nothing better to do anyway,' he thought.

The woman was surpised by this offer. "Oh that is very nice of you to offer. What is your name?"

"Most know me as Alexander."

"Mine is Bertha Jorkins." She said. "Are you from around here?"

"No, but I have visited this country many times. Where are you from? England." Astyanax guessed.

"Yes, I am." she answered.

"Well, let's get started." Alexander told her. "It is a five-day journey to Elbasan."

Outside Elbasan. Three days later.

There was a small house that was vacated many years before. No longer however.

"My Master," a cloaked figure began, "Bertha Jorkins is approaching the city. She is traveling with a man in armor."

"Good, Wormtail." His master said. "Set up an ambush on the road they are traveling and capture Bertha. Also capture the man if you must."

"Yes, Master."

Optional Song: Spectres in the Fog - Track 2 of The Last Samurai Soundtrack.

(Author's Note: This is the first of the songs I picked that fit the part of the story ahead. You could listen to it as you read if you have the soundtrack, download it from the Internet (ex: Limewire), or email me and I will do my best to get it to you. Roman Legion.)

Two more days later.

"There it is, Bertha. Elbasan." Astyanax pointed to the city.

"Oh, thank you so much." Bertha said. "I would have never found my way without your help."

"I was glad to help." Astyanax said in a very happy tone.

"Everything alright?" Bertha asked.

"Everything's fine. I am just happy to have contact with the Wizarding world once more. Tell me. How is Albus Dumbledore doing?"

Bertha was seriously startled by the revelation and drew her wand at him. "How... How did you know I was a witch and how do you know Dumbledore?"

"I met him soon after he finished his education at Hogwarts. As for the first question, I saw your wand in your pocket... and also you dress very oddly for a non-magical person or Muggle as you call them."

"I see." Bertha lowered her wand.

"Come now." Astyanax began walking. "We are almost..."

He saw something out of the corner of his eye in the woods.

"What is it?" Bertha asked.

Astyanax decided it must have been a deer or something. "Nothing. Come on."

They continued for another 20 feet when he saw another thing out of the corner of his eye. Astyanax looked around. The road was bordered on both sides by forest with no civilization for at least a mile both ways. The perfect ambush area. He drew his sword and shield.

"Bertha. Draw your wand. We are not alone."

Bertha drew her wand and followed closely behind Astyanax.

"When I say now, run as fast as you can toward the city. They are probably after you." he whispered.

Just then, several hooded men jumped out of the woods on both sides, wands drawn, and attacked them.

"Death Eaters!" Bertha shouted.

"NOW! GO! I'll hold them off."

"CRUCIO!" One of the Death Eaters shouted.

Astyanax dodged the spell, knowing exactly what it did. "Crucio" was a Latin word meaning "I torture/crucify."

He dodged another "Crucio" and the Death Eater who cast it was slashed by Astyanax's sword.

Astyanax, with Bertha now being a good bit ahead, ran up the road.

"Avada Kedavra!" A green light came toward him.

Astyanax hid behind his shield. The green hit the shield dead on, and bounced back toward the Death Eater. He was dead instantly.

"My word." One of the Death Eaters said. "The Dark Lord will want to see him. Don't kill him! Stun him!"

Astyanax ran further up the road and found Bertha on the ground, Death Eaters standing over her. "No!"

Astyanax took his horn and blew into it, sending a very loud earshattering sound all around him.

The Death Eaters could not take it and fell to the ground. Before they could get up, Astyanax was on top of them. He slashed one's throat and stabbed another in the stomach.

Before he could get another, a beam of red light hit him in the back and he fell, unconscious.

(Song Ends)