1

Chapter 22

The next morning, the sun rose and illuminated the sky. Soldiers getting ready for the oncoming battle between Paris and Menelaus.

Anama rose from her bed to notice Hector gone. She stepped out of bed and grabbed her robe. She walked over to the balcony and looked down to the stables.

There was Hector, grooming and feeding his horse, preparing him for battle. He placed the armor onto his horse and left to go back into the palace.

"My lady."

Anama turned to see Kia with two buckets of hot water. Anama sighed and walked over to the bathing tub. She disrobed and sank down into the hot water.

She lay there for some time, thinking about the battle that was to happen this day. She knew Paris would not win this fight, but no one could tell him any different. He would fight for his love and no one dared question him.

Anama felt a sponge grazing her back, bringing her out of her thoughts. She turned her head to see Hector kneeling behind the tub, bathing her back.

She smiled and turned back around, letting him bathe her.

"Where were you this morning?" she asked.

"Getting a few last minute things prepared for today."

Anama nodded her head and closed her eyes. Hector lathered her hair with rich smelling oils. She sat in the tub, eyes closed, basking in the feeling of Hectors hands on her skin.

"Come, you need to get ready." said Hector.

Anama stood and Hector wrapped her in her robes. She walked over to the vanity, drying her hair in the process. She sat down and began applying kohl around her eyes, making them stand out against her dark brown eyes.

Kia pulled her hair back and pinned it to the top of her head. She let the rest fall down her back in soft golden curls. She placed a golden crown on her head and went to get Anama's robes.

Anama dressed and was soon walking down the hall towards the observation balcony. She decided to take a detour and went down to the gate. She walked over to where Paris was preparing his horse.

"Paris." she said lightly.

Paris turned and looked over to Anama. He smiled a sad but caring smile. He walked over to her and embraced her in a hug.

"Oh Paris. Please be careful."

"I will try." he said.

"Just remember that she loves you. Always remember that."

Paris gave her a quick kiss and Anama left to go and watch the battle from a safer place.

She walked to the observation balcony and sat down next to King Priam. She could seedown below, hundreds of soldiers lined up in perfect order. There were even soldiers alined on the top of the wall, if need for archers ever arose.

She watched on as Hector and Paris rode out to complete the block of soldiers standing in front of the wall.

Anama noticed Helen pass them and walk up to the wall. She could fully relate to what Helen was feeling. Anama saw Paris take one last glance towards Helen and turn back to the open ground before them.

"Helen. Sit with me." said King Priam. Helen bowed her head and walked up to wear King Priam and Anama sat.

As they sat and waited, all was silent. No one dared to breathe as the suspense of this oncoming battle loomed over them.

So far there were no sign of the Greeks anywhere. The King and the two Princesses watched out over the horizon, as figures slowly made their way over the horizon, towards the gates of Troy.

Thousands of men marched their way towards Troy. Anama's stomach sank with dread. Either that or it was the baby. Anama placed her hand protectively over her stomach as she saw more Greeks coming from the horizon. It seemed as if they never ended, like they just kept coming.

Anama and Helen looked over at one another and shared the same look. Fright.

They looked back out over the ground and saw that the Greeks had stopped. Agamemnon and Menelaus moved forward, as Hector and Paris went out to meet them. They dismounted and met them face to face.

Anama and Helen's breathe hitched in their throats as Menelaus drew his sword on Paris.

Time went on as they talked. Everyone waited on pins and needles to see what would become of Troy.

They noticed Hector and Paris walk back to their horses.

"So, Paris is to fight." whispered Anama. She looked over to Helen. She looked as if she would break any second.

Anama looked back to the field as Paris drew his sword, the sword of Troy. The brothers hugged and Paris walked over to Menelaus. Hector walked back to his horse and waited to see what the battle was to show.

The battle began. Menelaus was throwing swings towards Paris, one right after the other. It took all of Paris' strength to prevent Menelaus from killing him.

Menelaus kicked Paris and sent him to the ground.

"Get up. Come on." said Anama to herself. She was praying with everything she had that Paris would survive this day.

Paris received a sword to his thigh, blood running down his leg. He scrambled back from Menelaus, trying not to be killed. Menelaus continued to advance on him.

Paris stood and took one final swing at Menelaus, but received a hit to the mouth instead.

Helen stood and ran to the wall. King Priam went to go after her but Anama beat him to it.

The two girls stood, watching out over the field towards their loved ones. King Priam stood behind them for support if need be.

Menelaus went to take a final swing when Paris scurried away, towards Hector.

"Is this what you left me for?" yelled Menelaus from the ground.

Anama wrapped her arms around Helen to give her comfort. They both watched as Paris grabbed a hold of Hector.

"Fight him, son. Fight him." said King Priam. Anama turned to look back at him. She saw the determined look on his face and turned back to watch.

Just as she turned, she saw Menelaus go for one final blow to Paris. Hector intervened by drawing his own sword and plummeting it through Menelaus.

Anama stood shocked at what she saw. Hector removed his sword as Menelaus feel to the ground.

Anama hugged Helen as they both cried. They turned to see the Greek army running towards the wall, and Hector dragging Paris to safety.

The battle between the Trojans and the Greeks ensued. Hector screamed for the archers. Anama looked around as the soldiers lined up across the wall readied their bows. The signal was released, and the archers let loose their arrows.

Everywhere Anama looked, men were fighting each other, blood spilling over the lands, men falling one right after another.

Anama kept a close eye on Hector. Hector was pushed off of his horse by the biggest man Anama had ever seen.

"You fool." whispered Anama. She watched as he cheated death many times. The man would just not give up. Hector stabbed his time after time, finally killing him.

Anama smiled and cried tears of joy. The Trojan army began moving forward. Anama had lost track of Hector, until she saw him mount his horse.

The Greek army began to retreat. Anama and Helen embraced one another. They both began crying tears of joy. Anama broke loose and hugged King Priam. He kissed her head and released her.

The Trojans came back to the wall. They put their things away and went in search of something to eat and somewhere to rest.

Anama was in Paris' room, looking after his wound. She began to stitch his leg wound when Helen entered the room. Anama gave a kiss to Paris' head and left them to themselves.

She went to her rooms to find the fire lit and Hector nowhere to be found. She changed out of her royal robes into her nightgown. She went to her vanity and took off her head piece and removed the pins from her hair. She fluffed out her hair and went to turn down the bed.

She waited for a few minutes, hoping Hector would come in any minute. When he didn't show up, she sighed to herself and got into bed. She closed her eyes, hoping to only nap so she could wake if Hector were to come to bed. The baby had other plans. She was so exhausted, she fell into a restless nights sleep.