Morning dawned far too soon and too bright as if Apollo sought to punish me for my excesses the previous night. On any other day, I would have been up to greet him as he began his ride through the sky before I made my way to his sister's temple. Today, however, even the mere act of opening my eyes sent pain searing through my head and my stomach lurched alarmingly. I turned over and closed my eyes again and began to take deep breaths through my mouth while counting to ten. A trick that I found to be the most effective way to ease nausea until I could reach the pot and my lavender oil.

Once my stomach had stopped rolling, I carefully eased myself upright in small movements then got to my feet and shuffled across the room with my eyes closed, feeling the walls like a blind woman, until I reached my privy area.

I decided then that it would be best to simply get it over with and that I might even feel better afterward so I knelt down and pulled my unruly mass of hair back then forced myself to empty my stomach. It was a good hour before I could stand again, during which I swore never to let myself get so drunk again, but when I did; I did indeed find that my headache had receded enough for me to open my eyes.

Next to my pot, there was a small stand with an assortment of oils, a decanter of water that was changed daily, and a few cloths with which to freshen oneself until a bath could be poured. A similar set-up was present in most of the rooms in the palace but I was incredibly grateful for it now as I poured a few drops of lavender oil onto one of the cloths after dampening it with water.

I washed my face and neck then rinsed my mouth out to rid myself of the bitter aftertaste then rose and went back into my room just in time to hear a knock at the door.

"Who in Hades is it?" I blurted irritably but, in truth, there were few people in the palace who would be awake this early, especially in light of the celebration the night before. It was either my cousin, Briseis, the king, or the maid coming to see if I wanted my bath poured. The soft lilting giggle outside the door though told me it was Briseis and I threw the latch and told her to come in even as I cringed to think of what I looked like.

Especially my hair.

"Another good reason to stay sober next time" I chided myself silently as she entered the room, a small cup in her hands, and her eyes widened to the size of saucers "gods, you look awful!" she exclaimed and I managed to smile at her bluntness. We both tended more towards honesty than tact and I had no doubt that she was right.

"Thank you, I do try my best" I replied and that was enough to set her to giggles again.

Crossing the room, I took picked up my hairbrush and began the arduous process of at least trying to untangle my hair while she smoothed my bed covers down and seated herself on the edge of the bed.

"I was drinking with your eldest cousin" I said by way of explanation and she grinned "I could have guessed. He does not look too well either. Which is why the head healer sent this up with me" she held the cup out and I sent my brush down to take it from her "it is his secret morning after brew"

Eyeing the steaming liquid warily, I gingerly took a sip then almost threw up again. It tasted like the way feet smell after a full day walking in the streets and it took every ounce of my restraint to keep from spitting it out. "I can see why it is a secret" I coughed, scrunching my nose up in distaste "that is so vile you could use it as a weapon".

She laughed again and I plugged my nose with one hand then poured the disgusting concoction down my throat. Even though my nose was plugged and I could not taste the majority of it, the aftertaste was enough to make me shudder. Incredibly, my stomach seemed to calm within seconds of my drinking the awful brew and I set the cup down and thanked her

"You are brave, my friend" I said fondly "even the maids did not dare to disturb me this morning".

If only I had known what was to befall the young rose of Apollo in the coming days, I would have found my words woefully inadequate. As it was, a flicker of a shadow crossed my mind and cleared the remaining fuzziness from my sight, leaving me alert and somewhat on edge. The ultimate reason for my drunkenness came flying back to me on swift wings and I must have looked worried because Briseis frowned suddenly and her brow furrowed in concern.

"What is amiss?"

The temple of Apollo was positioned on an acropolis close to the coast, overlooking the sea. If enemy ships docked on our shores; the temple clergy would be both the first to know and the first in danger. Including her.

"They are coming, Briseis. I can feel it. Perhaps we should set up a temporary shrine to Apollo within the walls so that you and the others can worship in safety until-"

"Ismena. The priests will never leave the temple, you know that as well as I. Even Cassandra's visions, as real as they are, they dismiss as pessimistic nonsense. Apollo will protect us, they say, and I have faith in that. I have to believe it in the same way that you believe Artemis will keep watch over you when you hunt and so you should as well. Are they not twins, after all?"

She had a point there and yet I could feel the threat just as keenly as I could feel the sun's rays on my skin. The gods had warned me not once but twice and I knew there would be consequences if I dismissed them outright. With a sigh, I told her of the inklings I'd had, the snippets of visions at odd times, and that they were the reason I had gotten so incredibly drunk. As if by bringing up the alcohol I could also purge the sickening feeling of dread that sat in my stomach like a lodestone.

"I will not give my life up freely and but neither will I abandon my faith in Apollo" she said stubbornly and I hugged her then, blinking away tears as she returned the embrace. She smelled of jasmine and incense and her form was still so slender, having only come into womanhood a year before.

"I am not asking you to. All I ask is that you suggest they move into the city for a month or two. If, by some miracle, nothing happens and the Greek king decides that it would be foolish to start a war over his unfaithful wife; then the priests can again resume worship in the temple. I know they will not likely heed you but promise me that you will at least suggest it" I pleaded.

"And if they refuse?"

"Then at least you tried. The gods tend to look favourably upon those who make the effort rather than those who merely wait for them to do so" the conviction in my voice made her look up and she squeezed me firmly then nodded.

"I will try...but first let us get you bathed and that hair of yours combed. Breakfast is likely ready in the hall and you cannot appear like that" she acquiesced and crossed the room to the door, called for a maid to bring the bathwater, and turned back to me.

I smirked and pretended to fluff my hair, not that it was needed because I could have housed a few birds nests in there. With ample room to spare. Even Medusa, with her serpent hairdo, would have been horrified.

"Why not? At least then, Paris would not try to kiss me again" I snorted

Briseis gaped at me, her hand still on the edge of the door, and her mouth dropped open in shock.

It was going to be an interesting day.

"He did WHAT?" my cousin's shriek of disbelief made me wince as well as making me aware that Briseis had told her about the liberties the prince had taken with my person. Not a moment later, just as I had finished fastening my necklace, Andromache came flying into my room, her eyes ablaze. "Is it true?" she demanded and I nodded, then proceeded to tell her exactly what had happened but nothing I said seemed to sink in except for the kiss itself.

"First he brings that Greek wench back and puts our country and people in danger and then he violates your purity?" she nearly screeched and I flinched instinctively. My head still did not feel the best and so the pitch of her voice was enough to make it hurt all over again.

Frankly I was surprised that both she and Briseis were so offended. During the last hour, while bathing and preparing for an appearance, I had sorted through my muddled memories of the event and come to the conclusion that the behavior was very much in character for Paris. Had it been any other woman, the event would have been unremarkable.

He was possessed of a certain beauty that fit his status as a charmer, a seducer of both the unsuspecting and the more-than-willing. Deep soulful dark eyes, a skillfully chiseled face, softly curling dark hair, a lithe form and a voice of liquid gold. Indeed, he was comely and women practically threw themselves at his feet wherever he went.

But he had not the presence and baritone voice of Hektor, who could command a room simply by appearing in the doorway, nor did he have his brother's wisdom or skill with the sword. Paris was not a warrior but merely a prince. One without a sense of responsibility or common sense, for he had stolen the wife of the Spartan king and married her without thought towards those whose lives he put in danger by doing so.

However, given that it had been his wedding night and that I hated him with a passion, I supposed that my cousin and friend had reason to be shocked and angry. I was, after all, still untouched and unaware of the ways of love- or so they called it. That he would dare to push himself on a priestess of a goddess to whom purity was immensely important, was both unacceptable and very foolish on his part. That I let him do so without hurting him was a testament to my own foolishness at allowing myself to be rendered helpless by alcohol.

My cousin, to her credit, waited until I had told her the whole story before storming out to tell the king but missed a crucial part nevertheless. I had not told her about my body's betrayal, about the heat that still flared in me whenever I happened to remember the kiss, because I honestly did not know what to make of it myself. So I did what was likely the stupidest thing I could have ever done and dismissed it from my mind.

Feeling almost numb, I rose and straightened my dress then took Astyanax from Briseis and smiled down at the baby. He was quiet this morning and seemed to be studying me intently, a habit he must have inherited from our side of the family. My cousin and myself had always been fascinated with what lay beneath facades, whether of people or architecture, and so, as children, we had spent many an hour watching and dissecting the interactions between various people in our city. If he had indeed come by that particular trait, and given his already apparent stubbornness, he would make a fine general and an even finer king. "Yes, little one. You will be a force to be reckoned with" I murmured "but first you must learn that your toes are for balance and not eating".

I gently extracted said toes from his mouth where he had been sucking on them and contemplated the near future. He was already holding his head up on his own and could crawl short distances with ease, it would not be long before he learned how to walk. That was a milestone that Hektor was looking forward to but Andromache and I were secretly dreading.

Astyanax was immensely curious about everything and, already, he had managed to get a hold of my necklace, my hair, my bracelets and, of course the embroidered neckline of my dress. I could only imagine how many pots, vases, and priceless heirlooms he would break once he was able to reach them. The servants would have to get creative with repositioning things and both my cousin and I would have to find a safe hiding place for our jewellery. Not to mention, Hektor's armor and weapons.

"Gods help us" I thought then lit some incense in front of my little shrine to Artemis before leaving my chambers.

When the little prince and I arrived in the dining hall, King Priam turned his head and regarded me with his ageless blue eyes, a slight furrow in his brow, before he smiled at the baby. Contrary to the required formalities in a royal court which called for him to merely look at the child but not be seen as being fond of him, he genuinely enjoyed holding his grandson and I gently lowered the little one into his arms. "Thank you, Ismena. You look lovely this morning and none the worse for wear after last night's celebration" he greeted me and I felt my cheeks burn.

"I certainly have both Briseis and the chief healer to thank for that. If it had not been for their efforts, I would have been considerably less cheerful" I replied sheepishly with a sideways glare at said priestess, who hid her amusement behind one hand

"Indeed, Andromache informs me that you had a confrontation with my youngest son last night and that he kissed you without your permission" he added seriously and, at that, both Paris and Helen looked up and Hektor put his fork down and glared at his younger brother.

"Indeed but it was as much my fault as it was his. I should not have drank so much wine while in his company and will avoid doing so in the future. Anything more, I would prefer to say in close quarters, your highness, for I am well aware that the walls in here have ears" I stated then seated myself and turned my attention to my breakfast. Talk at the table ceased as others took my example and focused on eating and, though I sensed Paris' dark eyes drilling into my head several times, I ignored not only him but his wife as well. Despite my dislike of them, I had no desire to be the one to start trouble between them and sought to remove myself from the situation completely by making it clear that I would say nothing more on the subject. In public, at least.

When I was finished, I excused myself from the table and took Astyanax from my cousin, remarking only that it was time for our walk and that I would return with him when he was hungry again. I was thankful for being able to use our daily routine as an excuse to leave because my heart had suddenly begun to pound like a drum and I was once again filled with apprehension.

As I walked with the child, I noticed that my nervousness was mirrored in the expressions of those I passed. Everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells and a steady wind was blowing at us from the west. If there were ships heading in our direction, they would be aided by the weather and, right then, that was definitely not a good thing.

"Gods help us" I thought for the second time that day then the baby began to fuss and I decided to cut the walk short. If there was a time that I would be needed in the temple, it was then.