Changing fate

Thanks to AA for
leaving me a review and encouraging me to continue.

Chapter 2 – For Troy

Hector would have liked
to grind his teeth in suppressed fury, but
he kept himself in check. A council had been called together as soon
as the black-sailed ship had been spotted and the longer it went on
the further the prince's anger rose.

“Just this morning the priests
spotted a small bird being attacked by a falcon. It would have surely
fallen prey to it's attacker, had not an eagle swooped down and
captured the falcon. This is a sign, my king. The gods have sent
these Greek warriors to fight on our side.”

The councilor sat down
and king Priam rose in his stead. “Very well. If it this is the
god's will we shall follow their advise.” He was about to sit
down again, but before he had time to do so Hector finally lost the
last remaining shreds of his patience and spoke up.

“Bird signs. You rely on bird
signs to judge our enemy. Father, this can not be your decision.”
The whole council had fallen into shocked
silence at Hector's words, watching in fascination as the prince rose
from his seat. “Achilles is the best warrior Greece has in it's
ranks. Do you think it wise to let him beyond our walls and render
ourselves so vulnerable? You should not forget that the Greeks have
Odysseus amongst their numbers, a trickster like there is no other in
the world.”

Hector's voice and
stance were filled with an angry determination, but just like his son
Priam was fierce and stubborn in his decisions. “Silence, son.
The gods have cast their decision and we must honor it. Do not dare
to insult the gods in my house by refusing their wishes. The decision
has been made and thus the council shall end.”

Upon hearing Priam's
words the council members left quickly, hoping to be gone in case the
debate between their king and their prince would continue. But they
needn't have feared, because even though Hector was seething in anger
he wasn't going to argue with his father any longer.

Bowing to the
white-haired king he strode out of the meeting chamber, vowing to
keep a close look on Achilles. And if he so much as suspected a plot
of deceit his sword would be there to stop the renowned hero, be he
the best of Greece or all the world. No harm would fall upon his
beloved Troy as long as there was still a breath left in his body.

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Standing on the royal
balcony atop the high walls of Troy King Priam gazed down at Achilles
and the Myrmidons gathered around him. The banner of Eirene was
flowing amongst their numbers and they were patiently waiting for
Troy to make a move.

The air was completely
still as if even the gods waited for something to happen, so Priam
finally raised his voice, speaking to the famed hero standing before
his gates. “Achilles, son of Peleus. What brings you before the
gates of Troy?”

When Achilles raised
his head the sun gleamed on his helmet as if the sun-god
Apollo himself was lending him a bit of his eternal glory. “King
Agamemnon has sent out a fleet to Troy to demand back the queen Helen
of Sparta. We instead come to your doors not as enemies, but as
allies. Let us join your side and fight for the immortality of our
names in the oncoming war.”

Nodding his head
silently Priam turned around to his guards, telling them to open the
gate before heading there himself.

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Most of the Myrmidons
were staring in awe as the huge gates of Troy opened, laying the city
open for them to enter. How easy it would be to attack now, to
forcefully break into the city and attempt to take it. But there
would be no honor or glory in such a deed so Achilles firmly pushed
the desire to conquer down.

Instead he stepped
forward as the elderly king of Troy approached, slightly bowing his
head in acknowledgment of the other man's
position. It was by no means as deep as one should bow to a king, but
Achilles had never held much respect for any king and just because he
was going to fight for one now would not change that.

Priam in turn seemed
grateful for his arrival, reaching out to clasp his hand in a
friendly greeting. “Great Achilles, we are most honored that
you would fight at our side. Come, your men must be weary from the
journey and battle awaits us soon.”

Nodding his head
Achilles followed the king, letting his gaze trail over the men and
women that had followed in his wake. He wasn't in need of rest by any
means, but his Myrmidons were. So while Priam led them deeper into
the city the golden-haired hero assessed the company he now found
himself in.

He recognized Helen of
Sparta and he had to admit that the rumors
about her beauty were true. And yet he didn't find her so appealing
that he could understand why one would wage a war just for her. Women
could be easily won by the hundreds as the spoils of battle, so why
would a single one be of any importance? But then again it was only
Menelaus who wanted his wife back to lessen the blow his ego had
taken, Agamemnon on the other hand was just taking the opportunity
that had presented himself.

If the blond-haired
women was Helen, then the youth next to her had to be the younger of
the Trojan princes. Paris. Quickly taking in the man's lithe built
and his delicate features Achilles almost snorted in disdain. A
pathetic weakling, nothing more. If the great Hector was anything
like his brother he would be a severe disappointment for the Greek
hero.

But for now his
curiosity about Prince Hector, the tamer of horses had to remain
unsatisfied for they had reached the quarters Priam intended them to
stay at and the king was taking his leave. Glad to have gotten the
formalities over with Achilles entered the barracks that had been
provided for his army, inhaling the stench of horses and greased
weapons. The familiar smells of battle immediately made him feel more
relaxed and at home than the most luxurious room could have achieved.

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Achilles stepped out of
the brightly lit hall, wishing to escape the festivities Priam had
organized to celebrate their newly forged allegiance. He had stayed
there as long as politeness dictated him to, but now he was intend on
reaching his quarters.

Drunken laughter was
echoing through the silent night, the voices of his Myrmidons
mingling with those of the Trojans. Fast friendships were forged as
the soldiers conversed over cups of wine and the soft bodies of
whores, the oncoming battle momentarily purged from their minds.

Achilles wasn't
begrudging his men the amusement, but he preferred
to stay wary and prepared for battle. They had no idea how long they
had left before the rest of the Greek army would arrive and the
Myrmidon's leader would be ready for them.

Seemingly he hadn't
been the only one unwilling to celebrate since Prince Hector once
again had been absent, but Achilles had refrained to comment on it.
Stepping out into the empty, moon-lit town space he was surprised to
face the very man he had just been thinking about.

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Hector paced the length
of his chamber, occasionally casting a glance out of the windows. He
could see the distant flickers of the festivities held in favor of
the Myrmidons and it rankled him greatly.
He was displeased at his father's decision, but he also felt weighted
down by the guilt of fighting with the old man.

It wasn't that he
didn't appreciate the allegiance the Myrmidons offered, because the
Greek army would demand all of their strength and every additional
soldier was a blessing, but rather the fact that his father acted so
trusting with complete strangers.

But then again, what
right did he have to question Priam's judgment?
Had his father's decisions not led them well in the past? They had,
so Hector finally came to the decision to join the festivities and
offer his father an apology for his
defiance.

Stepping out of the
palace and into the empty, silent town square Hector was shocked to
suddenly find himself faced with Achilles, leader of the
Myrmidons, fiercest fighter amongst all of the Greeks and the reason
he needed to apologize to his father.

TBC...