(Author's Note: I'd like to say that what you are about to read is not the original 'Arli', and that I have re-written it almost entirely. This was because I realised the earlier chapters I wrote were a bit all over the place and I needed to fix them up. I hope that new readers enjoy this story, and that previous readers appreciate this rewrite. Thank you all.)

Arli's POV

Peaceful. That's how I felt like when I woke up; just peaceful.

My room in the palace faced the ever-so-blue ocean and as I lay in my bed, the sun's rays touched my face, guiding me awake. My peacefulness was replaced by excitement, once I realised after those half-awake moments, that this was the day Hector and Paris were coming home from Sparta; retuning to Troy and to me. This realisation made me grin and jump off my bed, for I had to get ready in case they arrived early.

I am Arlina, called Arli by friends and family, and I am Paris of Troy's bastard daughter. Paris and my mother were twelve years of age when I came into being. My mother died in labour and Paris was left heartbroken, neither parent could care for me…that is where Hector came in.

Hector saw, that after my birth, his brother was dying inside and one day said to him, "Brother, I know you loved the woman who has borne you this lovely infant, but you must move on and be happy again. Paris, I believe that you want your child to grow up properly; the only way she can do that is if I take care of her for you. I will raise her to be a brave and wise woman, if you let me." Paris agreed. Even though Hector was only a few years older than Paris, he was willing to take the responsibility of a person years older than himself.

Hector raised me as he promised and I am a princess of Troy. I choose to believe that Paris is my father by blood and that Hector is my true father. I even look like Hector; I have tan skin, and I am tall, but then I also am like Paris with the softness of my soft skin and his beauty. The only thing that makes me unique is my eyes: they are gold, not yellow at all, just gold. My eyes are the reason why Priam looked past my legitimacy and let me into the palace to become a Trojan princess; he thought I was a gift from Apollo, the Sun God.

Hector has taught me so many things in my life; history, philosophy, how to earn your keep and how to make things out of wood, metal and stone. My favourite thing Hector taught me was how to fight. I wanted to learn it and he took me under his wing. He taught me how to fight with a sword, spear and with no weapon at all. Everything Hector knew about war and fighting was passed down to me; I am truly equal to Hector on the battlefield.

Paris taught me some things as well—things actually 'fit for a lady'. He taught me etiquette; how to address people, how to dress and how to behave in front of different people. The best thing Paris taught me, though, was archery. Paris did not want me to learn it, but I persisted.

The first thing I needed to do was have a bath, so I called my servant into my room to help me. I do not usually need servants for most of my daily activities, but having a bath was a two person task. I called my hand maiden, Rosella, into my room and she drew a bath. I dipped my head under the water and, when I came up, I felt Rosella putting oils into my hair and onto my body. After my bath Rosella helped me with brushing, drying and putting my hair into a bun, then I sent her away.

From my wardrobe I chose a dress that went over my breasts and tied up around my neck while leaving my back bare. The thing I liked most about this dress was the colours: cream with gold around the edges. Suddenly, there was excited yelling from outside my room; Hector and Paris had returned.

I saw Priam waiting with Andromache at the top of the palace stairs. Andromache was my best friend and like a mother to me. She also accepted the fact that Paris and Hector were both my fathers and that she had to share Hector with me. Andromache had Astyanax in her arms and she must have seen me, because she waved me over to stand next to her. I obliged and started running towards her.

"Arli, such a wonderful day! I cannot wait to see Hector," Andromache whispered to me, bouncing Astyanax in her arms.

I looked at the parade; the falling rose petals and people cheering their princes… at this my smile became wider. "Yes, this is a wonderful day. We have waited for our loved ones for too long!"

"Oh, look here they come! Wait, who is that with Paris?" Andromache asked as she saw Hector riding his horse to the palace stairs. Andromache took Astyanax's arm and waved it for him at Hector. Paris followed in a carriage behind him, but he was not alone in the carriage…he was with a blonde woman.

I continued to stare at the blonde woman and my smile faded; I had a bad feeling about her. "I do not know, but something is not right…" I started as the procession came closer, then I saw the woman's face; it was the most beautiful face I had ever seen and it belonged to Helen of Sparta. My breath caught in my throat and I choke out. "Oh, no…Paris what have you done?" I knew what was going to happen now: war.

Hector was the first to meet Priam at the top of the stairs. They exchanged few words, which I couldn't hear, for my own heartbeat made sure that only it could be heard all the way to my ears. After Priam kissed Hector's forehead, Hector came over to me and Andromache.

"Andromache and Astyanax, all the while when I was in Sparta, all I could think about was coming home to you," Hector said, pulling Andromache and Astyanax into his embrace and kissed their foreheads. He pulled away from Andromache and opened his arms to me, which I gladly accepted. "And you, Arlina, my golden eyed daughter."

"Father, I missed you so much," I whispered into his chest, and then I pulled away from him. I turned and looked at Priam, who was welcoming Paris and Helen to Troy with open arms. "But sadness fills my heart knowing you brought back what could be the start of a war."

Hector placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye. "Arli, we must not talk of war now. Later tonight we will have a council; I want you to be there. Please, just be welcoming to Paris and Helen, at least for now? Please, do this for me? "

I thought about it for a moment and nodded. "I will—only for you, though."

"I will come get you tonight, a little after dinner, so wait in your room for me," he said, and left with Andromache and their child.

Now I had to face Paris and Helen.

I saw Paris letting go of Helen and leaving her a few steps away from me. He walked into my open arms; even if he did bring war to Troy, he was still my father and a friend, and I missed him just as much as I did Hector.

"Arli, I have missed you so much!" Paris said into my ear and put his arms around my shoulders. He stepped out of my embrace and looked over at Helen, then motioned her over to us. "Arli, this is Helen, and Helen this is Arlina," he paused and looked at me with a hopeful look in his eye.

I wanted to be on good terms with Helen, not just for Hector and Paris, but I wanted another female to talk to and bond with, so I smiled and said, "Welcome to Troy, Helen."

As we walked away into the palace, I had tears in my eyes knowing that the fate of Troy had been jeopardized because of this woman, but I brushed that thought out from my mind and enjoyed the moment.