Hector was glad it was their last night in Sparta. He was ready to return home.
Menelaus, the King of Sparta, was giving them one last going away feast. Peace had at long last been achieved between Sparta and Troy.
Menelaus stood to his feet. "Princes of Troy, on our last night together, Queen Helen and I salute you." He was already half drunk and the night was young. But even as he wove slightly unsteadily on his feet, anyone with eyes could see that he was a warrior. A great one with many battle scars.
His wife, Helen who was twenty-five, was sitting next to him. She was wearing a white gown and fresh flowers had been woven into her golden hair. Her beauty was so great that she seemed to live in a world all to herself.
Hector glanced at Paris and stiffened. Paris was staring at Helen as he had the whole time he had been there.
"We have had our conflicts before, it's true," said Menelaus. "We've fought many battles, Sparta and Troy. And fought well!"
The hall roared their approval.
Helen raised her head and her blue eyes met Paris' brown ones.
"But I have always respected your Father. Priam is a good man, a good king. I respected him as my adversary and I respect him now as my ally."
The hall roared again.
"Hector, Paris, young princes, come, stand drink with me."
Hector stood, nudging Paris's shoulder none too gently, almost knocking his brother from his seat.
Helen's eyes flickered away.
Paris stood. He raised his glass, his eyes still on Helen.
"Let us drink to peace," said Menelaus.
Hector nodded and raised his glass.
The King and Princes drank deeply.
"May the gods keep the wolves in the hills and the women in our beds!" shouted Menelaus.
The whole hall rose to their feet and cheered. "To Sparta! To Troy!"
"Do you think you'll ever fall in love?"
Evangelia looked at her cousin, Bresis. "Probably."
"I hope I do."
"Over half of Troy is in love with you."
Bresis shook her head. "No, I want a man to love me for who I am. Not how pretty I am."
Evangelia smiled affectionately at her. "I'm sure some handsome man will come along and sweep you off your feet."
Bresis smiled and looked at her cousin. "You think so?" She was a very pretty girl, like her cousin. She had strange golden eyes and curling brown hair. She, like Evangelia, was highly pursued.
"Of course. And then his handsome brother or cousin will come along for me!"
The two women laughed and began running along the surf, carefree.
A band of musicians struck up their instruments and servants made their way slowly through the guests, filling goblets. Polydora, one of Helen's handmaidens, led a dozen attractive young women into the banquet hall.
Hector watched impassively as Paris talked to a raven haired beauty. Suddenly he almost pitched forward and landed on his face.
Meneluas pounded him on the back and then gripped his upper arm. "A good strong arm. Thanks the gods we made peace. I've seen too many of my men struck down with this arm."
"Never again, I hope."
"Only one man works a sword as good as you," said Menelaus. "The son of Peleus the Argonaut."
"Ah," said Hector. "Achilles."
Menelaus nodded.
"Have you seen the man?" asked Hector.
"I have."
"When did you see him?"
"He fought for my brother, Agamemnon."
"Ah," said Hector.
"I thought of your daughter, Evangelia, when I saw him," said Meneluas.
Hetor looked at him. "Why?"
"He looked like just the man Evangelia could take and tame."
Hector smiled slightly. He had spent almost a full day looking for the perfect gift for his daughter and he had found it. A gold necklace set with stones that where the color of her eyes. It was on the ship now. He had also picked up several yards of blue and gold silks that matched the necklace.
Menelaus indicated Polydora who was staring openly at Hector. "You see that one over there?"
Hector turned. The girl looked to be only about a year older than Evangelia.
"I picked her just for you," said Menelaus. "She's a little lioness." He grinned at the girl and she lowered her eyes.
Hector glanced at Helen. She was watching her husband and noticed his exchanged with the girl. But when she felt Hector's dark eyes on her, she turned and began talking with another handmaiden who was sitting beside her. Hector turned back to Menelaus. "Thank you. But my wife waits for me in Troy."
Menelaus shrugged. "My wife waits for right there." He leaned forward. "Wives are for breeding. For making little princes. Come, enjoy yourself tonight."
Helen rose to her feet and glided out of the hall.
Menelaus didn't noticed but Hector did. "I thank you for helping me finding the blue and gold silks. My daughter will enjoy."
Menelaus laughed. "As long as she thinks of me when she wears them."
"I'm sure she will." Hector watched as Paris slipped out the hall with a sinking heart.
Evangelia walked the dark halls of the palace, her thoughts troubled. She ran a hand absentmindedly through her thick brown curls. She couldn't sleep. When she did, her dreams where full of a man with eyes that burned holes in her soul.