Chapter 16: A Lost Prince
The warmth surrounded me with an unbearable desire to sink its teeth of fire into my flesh. My eyes snapped open as the dancing flames hollered in my ears with a beckoning, horror filled call. The fire wanted me, but I wouldn't give myself up. Strength uplifted my spirit, taking hold of me as I remembered the face. It was beautiful, with eyes of the deepest ocean, the wave being the grass in the oasis of the face. My mind wondered and for instances I felt the fire take over, burning my skin and filling my lungs with the scent of my own burning flesh. With a hellish voice I heard him speak the words, filling hearts with enragement. My own clenched in fury and a flicker caught my eye as the dagger glinted at me with a clever grin of evil.
A husky gasp escaped my lips as I lifted a broken, failing arm. I slashed with all my might, all my lust for love came out onto the wood and watched the sparks fly into the air as the wood beneath me collapsed. A spasm of coughs took over my lungs as my back hit the hard sand and with a grunt I purged my mouth with the rotten taste of blood once more, my gut spilling with life's support. My face twisted in revulsion at the metallic taste of my own blood, staining the sand on which I laid on. The pieces of wood around me burned brightly, the great barriers of the tower falling around me with a cascading wave of flame. My mind clung to consciousness as best it could, but soon the weakness of my body and the voice of an angel took over, whisking me away into a world not of this earth. To me, the River Styx was heaven, but still a hindrance to walk into my lover's arms…
I woke drowning in my own sweat, shaking violently as I imagined the skin on my arms burnt to black scabs, the blood spilling from my gut, my voice so loud in my ears but inaudible to the world around me. I wavered in the soft covers of my bed as I heaved myself over the end of the bed. My stomach rolled and I felt the revolting taste of vomit coming to the corners of my mouth. I scrabbled out of the bed, catching my breath as my feet paced distinctly back and forth along the floor. My body eventually slowed and relaxed as the vision faded from my mind. Sitting back down on the bed, my fingers brushed cold metal. Filled with shock, I peered down to see Patroclus' sword resting among my soft sheets, beaming in glory. My fingers hung in the air, shaking as they gently grazed the metal. The sword was like a hot ember, and instantly waves of visions and words flooded into my mind, tormenting my spirit.
Throwing my back against the soft sheets, I sunk to the floor, the cold stone my only reassurance, as icy as my heart had turned. I relived all the memories of my brother, my father and lastly my love. It all seemed incoherent, as if my father knew of Patroclus. My brother was stuck in jealousy, all the while wishing to place his dagger in my lover's heart. And Patroclus, with his pride and mischievous grin, stared with a vicious glare at my father. The blood spilled, the laughs echoed and somewhere deeper in this horrific scene was Hector, laying slain under Achilles feet.
"No!" I screamed to myself, leaping to my feet. I changed quickly into the discarded gown from days ago, quickly brushing my tangled hair and reaching for the sword on my bed. My breath stopped short and my hand quivered in its spot in midair. The sword gleamed at me with devil's teeth, sneering with a derisive shimmer. That boy just saved the war…Agamemnon's words rang in my ears sharply. I could imagine the blade fall from his hands, sinking into the sand and grit beneath him. And as he looked up, he saw Hector's face.
"Hector!" his distant voice bellowed into the stiff air, the silent wind passing through cooling my trembling face. "Hector!" My lungs were tied in knots as I gazed from my balcony and saw Hector approaching the gates. With a gasp I ran from my room, down the empty passages of the palace, my heart in my stomach and rolling with sickness. I sprinted through the empty, dark hall. It was dank with panic, thick with the rancid smell of uncooked meat, making my stomach flip with a dizzy dance. I stepped quickly out of the palace, the gardens and balconies blocking the sun above me. The city of Troy was spread wide out in front of me, a maze of sandstone homes, ransacked taverns and tall towering buildings. The markets were closed, sheltered by blankets and thick coverings, closed with the news of war. The city, so lively and golden once was now a dreary yellow, dulled by the news of death and the blood spilled across the sand. The doors swung open deliberately by the wind, as if the city itself had died with the unfortunate soldiers of the pervious days of battle.
I bit my lip as a mother grabbed her anxious son, shooing him back into the house. She stood in the doorway for a second, looking around her for any signs of life, any symbol that all that had happened was a dream. Her tired eyes befell on me, and instantly became cold. She glared at me with a contemptuous stare and slammed the door after her, the dust rising and flushing itself in my face. Betrayer…
The name whispered in my ears, haunting me. Two soldiers walked by, patrolling the quiet city that had not yet awoken. One looked gravely at me and then looked away. The other bared teeth at me and pointed, shoving his elbow into his partner. The soldier grunted grimly and looked up at me.
"Look, it's the whore Aldreana," the one soldier said. The other remained quiet, giving a quick grunt of a laugh and then looking away. The other soldier followed me, stopping when I passed him and keeping his eyes squarely where he wanted them. "I can see why she gets her reputation." I glared behind me, my body stiffening and yet twitching with excitement when my fingers grazed over the cold handle of my sword. The soldier held out both his hands, beckoning for me with his fingers, curling them and motioning for me to come into his arms. I gave a sly grin. Gripping my sword, I bounded to him. Leaping for the advantage, I pulled the sword right to his throat, keeping it there, as his eyes grew wide.
The other soldier stood quietly, almost stubbornly, a few steps behind the other, waiting for the next action. His ambiguous hands were on his dagger, his fingers licking the smooth hilt with anticipation. "Aldreana…" he gave the warning in a whisper. "He didn't ask for trouble and neither did you." His voice grew with every stressed word and soon people stared coming from their homes to observe. Women gasped at the sight of my fire filled eyes and covered their children from the sight of the blood trickling from the man's throat where my sword slightly tore the flesh. My eyes flashed back to the soldier who breathed deeply, his eyes on the tip of the sword. He glared at me with a hotly, zeal filled glare.
"Next time Iason, make sure your companions can respect those around them. I'm sure their commander would not like to hear of the harassment and commotion they cause," I sneered at the man in front of him who I had caught at bay. His eyes were slits of vexed anger that bubbled up to his lips.
"You are the traitor, you are the harasser!" he spat. "You bed with the enemy and then expect to come back to Troy with open arms. Now the Prince is doomed because of you!" A stunned silence hushed all the children. Suddenly eyes, millions of them, were staring at with imploring glares. I sucked in a breath, feeling my eyes water and my knees quake. Iason bowed his head, unable to look me directly in the eye. I saw Myles' face. The brothers share the same opinion about my choices. The sword I held slid from the man's neck to the ground. The man instantly grabbed his throat, rubbing away the warm blood and stumbling back. With an expansive wave of his arm, he looked up to all the bystanders. "Behold the betrayer-"
"That's enough!" Iason spoke out. His long curling brown hair tumbled into his eyes as he grabbed the shoulders of his companion and shoved him to the ground. The man lurched forward, tripping on loose stones but catching himself before falling to the ground. Iason unsheathed his sword. His eyes were hard and cold as he glared at the people who circled us. "Let this war remind you all of the lessons learned, the choices made and the lives sacrificed." His eyes went from me to the other soldier and back again. I saw them soften slightly, Iason's nimble hands sheathing the sword. He held a hand out for his companion, who slapped it away and stood up justly on his own. The sincerity of Iason's voice startled me, quite different from his normal flamboyant attitude towards life. He faced me, though his voice was loud enough to be heard by all the watchers around us. "Sometimes the choices we make are for the better and sometimes it is because that is all we have." His eyes softened with forgiveness. He nodded his leave, taking the other brusque soldier with him. My look of surprise made Iason give a wicked smile, something that separated him from his brother, Myles.
"Hector!" the uproarious call made all heads turn to the gates that loomed not far from us. There stood Andromache, standing with the swaddling clothes of the babe in her arms. The cries of their son echoed in the streets, softened only by Hector muffling the babe with whispers of condolence. My heart withered in pain seeing the child, not even passing a summer's eve. He would never know of his father's fate. Hector cradled the child's head in his hands once more, embracing his wife before hefting the shield and facing the gates. Andromache sobbed softly, running quickly up into the tower steps to the place balcony overlooking the wall and the vast sea ahead of Troy. Hector heaved a deep sigh, his chest rising and lowering with a tired soul. Tears flowed from my cheeks. I sheathed the sword and ran to his feet.
"No!" I wailed, falling to my knees and grabbing the edge of his armor, the sandals of his shoes at my lips. My tears washed away the sand from his feet. Hector stiffened, bending down and looking at me with an expressionless gaze. Seeing me weep at his feet made his face melt into guilt and remorse. He knelt down beside me, wrapping a hand around my slim shoulders. "Please don't go my lord," I sobbed, my face contorted into a frown spilling with tears. Hector grimly clenched his jaw at me, looking down at me with humble eyes. Nothing would stop him. Achilles echoed through the air, making me cringe. His fingers cupped around my chin, making me look into the bright sunlight up into his glorious face.
"Aldreana, if I had known who he was, I would never have killed him." I shook my head, knowing the statement was false, that in the heat of battle both men I love dearly would have stilled sliced at each other. "I would have spared him, but still call him enemy." Hector's words resembled the temperamental man that used to shout at me, instead of the broken prince who now had no other path but the one chosen for him by the actions of those around him. And in that circle stood Patroclus, Paris, Helen and me, all faced with a decision we knew not of the outcome. "If I had known of your danger by keeping you in Sparta I would never have left you there." Tender footsteps crunched the sand behind us. Hector looked up with a loftily glare, then his face was filled with a lush sentimental grace. I cheekily refused to turn, knowing whom the presence was.
"Aldreana," I looked up into his dark, loving eyes with a heart of stone. "You are to watch over her now. That is the last order I give you as your Prince with you as my spy." My mouth gaped open as his sand caked lips placed a soft kiss on my forehead, the kiss of farewell. I bowed my head, trying to hide the snarl that crossed my face. But Hector recognized it. "Must everything make your heart so bleak Aldreana, so hard?" I looked up at him, with the same sly eyes from before. It made me contemplate whether or not his last order would be followed or not. "Does nothing make you the girl I saved all those years ago?" his question was filled with a blatant love.
Tears in my eyes, I stared deeply into his. "Do I fill you with rapture my lord?" I whispered. Hector's face was plastered with sudden memory and lust. His forehead pressed against mine, he let a soft moan withdraw from his lips.
"Your spell stranger, is one I can never pass," he whispered with lust. I looked back up into his eyes, our faces close.
"Only Patroclus and your presence with me will make me the person I once was my lord. I wanted to save my protector, my savior and in doing so have led him to his death." My cold eyes pierced through Hector, my words cutting deep into his heart. He stood and looked down on me with a lofty gaze. "I beg you not to go my lord, but no such action can already change the betrayal I have created." I gave my soul to Hades that second, wishing with all my might to change the course of the past in order for the future to be rewritten. Hades laughed in my face, mocking me.
Hector hefted up the shield, his face absent of any feelings that were there a moment ago, and gave Helen one last farewell with a sweep of his head in a proud bow and then looked back down at me. "You have betrayed no one Aldreana. Take these words as words from Troy and from me as your Prince." I raised myself up to my feet, shaking underneath the hot sun. The cold sword at my side was blazing with metallic power, winking in the sunlight at Hector. He gazed down at it, his mouth twitching. "He remains at your side," he assumed. I gave a week smile.
"Yet you shall remain the only man who has power over me. My lord." I bowed my head, raising it back up to watch Hector walk out the gates, a last quick look over his shoulder focused on me. He held the spear proudly in one hand, the shield in the other. The last look in his eye gave me one message. Appearances can always be deceiving Aldreana, but you most of all… goodbye stranger…
It was as if his mind spoke openly to me, sending his words to ring in my head. I wiped the tears from my eyes and held my head up with the same headstrong look. Achilles stood in an arrogant manner, his lips curved in a malevolent smile. The wooden gates suddenly closed the two men from my sight, clamoring shut with a loud bang. Helen stood a few feet behind me; her eyes lay on my back. The soldiers locked the gates, the pounding of the wooden beams slamming against the doors with a mighty force. Helen surrendered to the moment, finally realizing that Hector was on the brink of death. I seized the moment, removing myself from my adamant stage and grabbing my skirts, running up the stone steps to balcony.
"Aldreana!" I stopped in my footsteps and whirled around. Helen's eyes were springing with tears, yet she held them all back biting her cheek. I stepped down and met her, grabbing hold of her trembling shoulders. "This is my entire fault," she finally whispered. My heart told me to scream yes, but my mind compelled it to remain silent. I shook my head, grabbing her hand and leading up the stairs.
"We all could have made better choices, this is just how the Gods decide to punish us," I replied curtly.
As we entered the balcony, the servants of the royal family bowed for Helen with respect. When half of the women looked up, hands went to mouths at the sight of me, once proud and headstrong, now mangled by blood and retribution. I knew they sensed the change in me, and were ready to mark any form of an insult they could. Yet they remained silent when Helen grabbed my hand for comfort, leading me over to stand beside her next to Paris. The young prince gave me a scowl, but Helen's eyes made him resent the glower. He calmly brushed his hand across her waist, leading her to the edge of the balcony where Priam, Andromache and him stood. I remained a few feet behind Helen, feeling the eyes of the other servants on my back.
The sudden clanging of armor made me forget my place. I pushed my way past the servants, standing next Helen. Her glance I barely noticed. Paris glared at me, Helen's hand on his shoulder made him turn back to the fight. I held my breath, only releasing it when Hector was able to keep Achilles at bay. They both moved like Gods. Achilles always used his slashing, his inability to keep his feet still on the ground for one second. Hector was able to dodge every move with an easy duck, and swiftly came back to strike at Achilles. But Achilles kept at it, slamming his sword into Hector's. Both men held a distinguished power about them. I watched Hector move quickly on his toes, his burly body moving gracefully with each swing of his arm. Achilles had his quick, jerky jumps and equally powerful lunges, making Hector fall back.
Hector slashed furiously into the air, backing Achilles further and further into the gates until a thin line slashed the Greek's armor. Hector waited not a second later to round up on the man and stab his side. While Priam jumped with a giddy silent shout of joy, I stiffened, gasping as Achilles had his moment of weakness. Paris glared over his shoulder, his face trembling with anguish at me. I tore away the feeling. Paris's revilement showed clearly in his face. Achilles easily turned his arm around and tried striking Hector, but his shield blocked Achilles' swing. They continued to fight, each not losing another instant of beat.
I caught my breath suddenly and heard Andromache fall to the ground when Hector's foot caught on a stone. He stumbled, gasping for breath. Achilles taunted him, telling him to get up and fight. Andromache banged her head against the stone, Helen immediately coming to her aid. Priam's head was shaking with the unthinkable. Hector got back up, but not quick enough for Achilles' sword. A gash appeared on his leg and again Hector stumbled. Priam was shaking uncontrollable. I looked from Paris, broken, to Andromache, who was caught in her own reverie of Hector's death. My eyes fell to Priam, whose back held the years of peace, ruined by a simple man's lust.
Hector picked up the piece of the broken spear he smashed from Achilles' and ran for his enemy, dipping down to catch his foot. Achilles blindly lifted it up and leaped over the bent Hector, coming at his back. Hector spun around, the spear knocked from his hands. Achilles swiftly picked it up as he moved in and slashed at Hector. I held my breath as Achilles spun around, hoping that Hector would be quick enough. The spear however, bared its sharp teeth at Hector. Achilles spun and chucked the spear. The tip sunk in deeply to Hector's shoulder. He gave a gasp and collapsed to the ground.
"No!" I screamed, leaning in on the balcony. I heard shouts behind me and arms grabbed me, pulling me back onto the stone ground. "Hector!" The Prince was stooped over, gasping for breath as blood gathered at his lips. Andromache sobbed, the only sound besides my choking tears. Achilles stooped in a crouch, pointing his sword at Hector and then stepped in, shoving the blade into Hector's gut. Hector took a last gasp of breath and then died on the ground, falling to his side. Priam's body quaked, Helen was weeping next to me, and Andromache sobbing, a crouched body on the ground. Achilles slid his sword out with a blunt grunt, sheathing it after wiping away the blood. His glistening body haunted my eyes. I blinked through tears at him, watching him grab a yard of rope from the back of his chariot.
Priam mumbled chaotic words and I opened my mouth in a silent growl of horror as Achilles bound Hector's legs to the rope, tying the other end to his chariot. He briskly climbed back onto the chariot, grabbed the reins and turned the horse back for the ships. Priam shook his head, his shoulders matching his breaths of sobs. Achilles looked at each of us as he rode away, matching each of our stares with a cynical glance. When he came to me, he gave a nod, making all heads turn to me. Paris snarled under his breath and stormed from the balcony. Andromache numbly got to her feet with Helen's assistance, looking out over the balcony. Hector's body just crested the horizon when her eyes searched the field and I saw a look of death pass her face. Her face drained of all life, turning a deathly pale as her eyes rolled in the back of her head. Fainting in Helen's arms, I instantly came to her aid, gingerly setting the frail woman down to the floor. Helen gazed with tears pooling down her cheeks.
Guards came and gathered Andromache, carrying her back to the palace. Priam held his head in his hands, dismissing the royal court and the servants. His old age suddenly was heaved upon his shoulders as he gave me the greatest look of denunciation I had ever seen given to me. Expecting me to lower my eyes as a servant, his eyes bulged when I set my head high and let the tears fall openly for my love for Hector. Helen laid a hand on Priam's shoulder. The king didn't stiffen, but let her comfort try its best to consul him. I watched with heavy eyes as Priam finally considered Helen the daughter now that he had lost a son. Yet the scornful glare that he gave her beneath his hands told me that he hated the choice Paris had made. Helen mumbled her leave, setting her eyes on me, her command to follow marked within the blue hue. I turned after her, dreading every moment of my life from here on out.
"Aldreana, stay here for a moment." I bent forward, giving Helen a dubious look as I circled back around. "Helen, leave us." Helen looked from one to the other. All I gave her was a quick indifferent jerk of my head to the doorway, motioning for her to leave. My eyes however betrayed my face with a reassuring look that made Helen quickly dismiss herself from our presence. Priam rubbed his eyes, smoldering his face with his hands. Then he spun around and looked me in the eye. His clouded eyes of the purest blue made me cringe, my frown mixing with my loss.
"Aldreana, you knew of this, did you not?" I meekly nodded my head, realizing that Priam frightened me more than Hector used to. "And yet you did nothing?"
"Don't think that following every order your son gave me, trying to persuade both the enemy and Hector to not do what they would as nothing," I snarled, unable to hold my temper. "Look not to me for an act of betrayal, look only to Helen and your son. I obeyed Hector's orders, stayed in Sparta and came here with Achilles. To blame this all on me is something you cannot do, I will not allow it." My voice died in a whisper. Priam gave me a considering look, a look of condemning. I knew the words were on the tip of his tongue, the declaration of treason. But Priam stood still, standing to his fullest height and coming close to me.
"You loved my son, and knew some secrets not even I possess. Are the stories true, that in return he let you free from my service, from any service of Troy? Is that what drove you to return to the ships?" His acquiring questions made me nod.
"He let me free, so I returned to the heart that returned the love. Hector wanted me to suffer in Troy no longer, and set me free from bondage, to live my own life as I would chose. I chose Patroclus, yet still remain loyal to Troy." I held my head high, brushing away the tears and speaking without a trembling voice. Priam nodded somberly, turning back to the on looking sun.
"You have not changed at all Aldreana. From the moment Hector brought you to court to the second you stand with me. You will never stop fighting for what you want." Priam's eyes were smiling with humor at me, while his face was marked with sorrow. "Nothing but the love of Hector and now this Patroclus has softened your heart." Priam looked to the sword at my side. "That's Greek," he stated bluntly, able to recognize the works of the blacksmith. I nodded.
"Hector stripped Patroclus of his weapons when he killed him." Priam's head snapped up with surprise at my words. I sighed greatly, wishing not to share the story. "Hector believed Patroclus to be Achilles yesterday and killed him." Priam's proclivities took over and even though I named an enemy, his lips still mumbled a pray that Patroclus would make it safely across the River Styx. "He gave the sword to Myles, a servant of the palace, who gave it to me." Priam nodded, a silence taking over. I suddenly grew edgy with the unspoken words, wishing to be away from this place.
"Tell me, do you know anything of Briseis. I still have not lost hope that she is alive." Priam's desire to know the truth made me divert my eyes from him. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and holding back the tears. The opportunity to tell ate away at me. Briseis had the one thing in the world she vowed to give away and loved it more than anything. I cursed myself when I shook my head. Priam gave a ruefully sigh, wishing that he hadn't even brought the matter up. "Aldreana, look at me." His strong yet soft voice made me instantly turn my head up. His eyes locked with mine, I was unable to look away.
"I want you to take me to Achilles' camp tonight. I want the body of my son." My head snapped in surprise at the sudden order. I opened my mouth to protest. "This is my last command to you Aldreana. Once you have completed it, the decision is yours to do what you will. I know where your heart lies and will not strip you of the choosing. Please, you must do this, for me," he ended imploring, begging me. I contemplated the dangers, but finally shook away all the possible deaths. Finally I acceded.
"It is as my lord commands. Tonight when the sun dies, I shall take you to Achilles and we shall return with Hector," I vowed.