Author/Banshee Queen: "Wow, wow, wow. Five days away and it would be exactly a month since I've updated. Sorry guys that I kept you waiting but the last few weeks have been absolutely hectic, what with assignments, tests and what not. It's been absolutely crazy! Anyway, I wrote this chapter about two months ago but just haven't gotten around to putting it up. Please forgive me.
Also, I'd like to thank you once again for the lovely reviews-they ALWAYS bring a smile to my face, and you have no idea the fluttery feeling I get when I read them. (Squeals with happiness) I have a feeling you'll like this chapter ShiningFriendship...
Disclaimer: "I don't own the characters of Troy, etc etc"
Chapter 5: Forget Me Not
"I need some fresh air", Hector half whispered, half hissed into Paris' ear quickly.
"What do you mean?" Replied Paris in the same tone, Menelaus' walked ahead of them a few paces ranting on about his great plans to build a stone monument in Zeus honour, "we were just aboard a ship a second ago by the Gods!"
"I know that you fool! But his persona is stifling me already", continued Hector, gesturing at Menelaus who was oblivious to the two Trojan Princes who had not been listening to his rant, "I just need some air to clear my head."
"Hector!" Paris hissed sharply as Menelaus gladly directed him back down the hall from which they had come.
The older Trojan Prince merely shrugged his brother off with a wave of his hand and slight smile before finding himself alone down a dark corridor. Natural light shone from the opposite end of the corridor, and as Hector walked closer he noticed a wide terrace opening up before his eyes.
The Prince felt his lids closing on their own accord as he breathed deep the fresh sea breeze and let it rustle through his hair and military cloak. Taking in his surroundings, Hector noticed a small grey pebbled path leading off to the right. Curiosity lead the Prince's feet as it grew to such an extent that he felt himself now breaking into a small jog.
Clinging, climbing green vines lay flat against the side of the stone carved palace and as one a tidal wave of various flower scents' assaulted Hector's senses. Foreign flowers he had never seen or smelt before, stunned his eyes to their retinas as he took in the culture of shapes, sizes and smells.
Only a woman would garden such frivolity.
Menelaus was too savage for such a collection of plantalia.
Hector turned his eyes aloft…and blinked.
Could it be? No…it was!
Helen, garbed in a scarlet coloured gown, trimmed with gold at the shoulder straps, and with her hair flowing free, stood with her back to Hector, staring off into the distance and twirling what looked like a flower of some sort in her right hand.
"Helen…", began the Trojan Prince.
The Spartan Queen instantly froze, every muscle in her body tense, the flower falling from her hand and landing on the grass at her feet.
He's here!
Helen slowly turned to meet the intruder of her garden…and her heart.
"Hector", she breathed, slightly flushed, "I wasn't-
"My apologies, My Queen. I didn't know anyone was-I mean I just", Helen stared at him unblinkingly, "I didn't mean to-I mean I wasn't-
"There's no need for an apology Hector", laughed the girl amusedly, "I know that you didn't mean to intrude, that path sprung curiosity to mind, correct?"
Hector nodded slowly with a dubious smile.
"Welcome to my garden", Helen laughed with a nervous tint, holding her arms up once noticing his amazed stare at the variety of different flowers, "how do you find it?" The Spartan Queen questioned with a light smile.
"Breathtaking", replied the Prince as he slowly advanced, eyes still marveling at the sight of so many flowers, "literally breathtaking."
Among other things…
"Menelaus calls me a fool for spending all my time here, but I don't mind. This is my hideaway, my retreat I suppose you could say, I come here when I've…fallen ill."
The two shared a knowing grin and Helen beckoned for him to come closer. Hector complied willingly and halted at her side, looking out at the vast Spartan river as it led away down South.
"I hear you are due to have a son or a daughter soon, Prince Hector."
Hector's brown eyes shone with pride as the corners of his mouth melted into a smile. "I was aware that news travelled fast among the Greeks, but I had not anticipated for it to be this fast."
"You'd be astonished at what hearsay reaches Menelaus' ears."
"Truly", concurred Hector, shifting his feet soundlessly, "but yes, in another two and a half months or so, and if I must, I intend to beg pardon from Menelaus and be home before then. But even then I fear she will have me whipped", Hector ended with a laugh.
Back in the arms of the woman he loves…the voice in Helen's head sighed.
"…Andromache, isn't it?" Helen pronounced her name slowly.
The name of the woman he loves, the name of the woman who is carrying his child…
"Yes", Hector nodded affirmatively.
"Give her my love and my best wishes, if I had of known sooner I would have prepared a gift for her. My apologies, Prince Hector", Helen slowly inclined her head towards Hector.
Andromache…the name of the woman who had the surety of his love years before ever I met him.
The Trojan Prince bowed slightly and too inclined his head towards her direction, "Rest assured that I will, and I'm sure she'll be more than pleased to hear of it My Queen."
Helen smiled in reassurance, the smile from her lips however brief, fading as she stood stiffly against the afternoon sunlight. Out of the corner of his eye, Hector was stealing sudden glances.
By the Gods she's a goddess who walks among us mortals…Zeus be cursed the day she took her first breath!
"How long…", Hector turned his head and stared at Helen's sudden inquiry, "do you intend to reside here?"
"I know not as of yet, but I'm sure Menelaus will be eager to leave as soon as possible, a week at most My Queen, I'm still uncertain."
The Spartan Queen nodded slowly, as if assessing something within her mind.
"And may I inquire, will you be accompanying your husband on this tour, My Queen?"
Helen's sudden shake of her head, produced those waves of flaxen hair to flutter in the wind.
"Like you, I'm uncertain, but I have been reconsidering it of late, Prince Hector."
The Prince unexpectedly shook his head with a minute smile and said, "My Queen, I have a request of you which I would gladly like attended to", those azure eyes darkened with confusion, "I myself have not grown accustomed to the customs of court, even though they have been a necessity throughout my life", Helen rose an eyebrow in question, "I ask of you not to call me 'Prince' Hector, but simply Hector."
"It seems then that we are of equal mind then…Hector", the Spartan beauty pronounced the Trojan Prince's name as if it had never reached her lips or ears before, "for I would only grant you this request if you would comply with mine also", Helen laughed lightly once seeing the perplexed expression on Hector's face, "I ask of you not to call me 'My Queen', but simply Helen."
Hector's jaw dropped a little before he began stammering immensely, "But- but My Queen, I-
"But my dear Prince Hector", began Helen cutting him off, "I would not so gladly comply with your request before you complied with mine", the Trojan Prince clamped his jaw shut determinedly, "which…", added Helen as an afterthought, "I see you're having trouble with."
Hector openly stared at her hard expression with obvious negligence before; she burst into fits of laughter, clapping a hand over her mouth as she continued to laugh 'silently'. It wasn't long before Hector followed suit, laughing at himself for looking like the fool that he was.
"Helen it is then", Hector quietly said, once both of them had come down from their quake, "and if I may be so bold Helen, allow me to say how…stunning you look, this sundown."
The Spartan Queen felt her eyes moisten as she gazed fixedly into the Trojan Prince's warm eyes.
"You may", she whispered, as the breeze ruffled both their garbs' and the waves of her long hair.
No word did Hector utter as he bowed simultaneously, following the compliment, but when he bent further, and nearer towards her feet, Helen stepped back in surprise. Straightening, the Prince extended his arm towards her, a token of something small and white held securely between his fingers.
"You seemed to have dropped this", he stated softly, offering her the small token.
Helen faintly smiled down at the flower between his fingers, she had dropped it in pure shock-who would've expected the man of her mind…and heart…to sound his presence-after being interrupted by thoughts of him.
The Spartan beauty timidly outstretched her hand to reach for it-which elicited a diminutive gasp from both. Two sets of eyes flickered aloft and met together. Russet on cerulean softened swiftly, both experiencing the electrifying feeling that one touch alone obtained. It was as if Zeus himself had come down from Mount Olympus and struck them as one with a lightening bolt. Hector slowly retracted his hand from Helen's, gesturing towards the flower as he spoke.
"It is a lovely specimen."
"Indeed it is", Helen quietly stated as she roused herself from her trance, "but it will soon die, along with all the other flowers here", she sadly stated, lowering her voice at the last.
Hector resolutely shook his head, "Keep it, and you will see. If you fold it within the pages of a book or handkerchief then it will stand the test of time, and not be forgotten."
"Forgotten?" A quizzical frown pinched Helen's delicate features.
"Most people forget a simple token, like that flower in your hand there", Hector gestured, "once they have put it away for some time. And along with its mere being, the sentimental value is also forgotten."
The Trojan Prince catching her still bewildered expression, smiled reassuringly, "Keep that flower Helen, as a token of our first meeting, and you'll never forget."
Spots of colour bloomed on Helen's cheeks as they rose with the action of her teeth willingly baring themselves to the Prince's last bidding. The Spartan Queen timidly smelt the blossom's scent, grinning with anxiety and bashfulness at Hector simultaneously.
By Zeus! Stop acting like a fool girl! Scolded the voice in her head.
But try as she might, Helen couldn't stop grinning like the fool girl that she was; her knees felt as if they would cave beneath her, the red in her cheeks deepening as every muscle in her mouth pulled her lips as far back as they would go. Hector merely smiled kindly, blind to the signals her body was sending off.
A distant, boisterous shout from a sailor far below the cliff-face broke the silence between the two, and casting a quick glance over his shoulder, Hector bowed formally facing Helen, stating that he had to be back before Paris would begin worrying that he had lost his way in the palace.
"Until next we meet."
"Until next we meet", Helen murmured, bending her shaky knees in what she hoped look like some sort of formal bow.
As Hector disappeared around the corner of the grey pebbled path, Helen smiled emotively, spinning back to face the sun setting on the waters of the Spartan river. She inhaled the refreshing scent of the blossom again and sighed wearily.
By the Gods…I'm a ruin and a wreck…
An exultant laugh escaped her throat loudly.
But I can't help it…oh Aphrodite why do you torment me so?
To her breast Helen pressed the flower softly, but safely. This thing she would now treasure above all the wealth Menelaus had ever bestowed upon her, or ever could bestow upon her.
Damn you to Hades, Aphrodite! Damn you to Hades, Cupid! You team together against me…and smite my heart with your powers of love! Damn you both!
Author/Banshee Queen: (Simply grins)
