Sacrifice

NOTE: In my story the Trojan war does not last 10 years just as it did not last that long in the movie. The events presented in the movie happened almost as fast in the book and they took place in the 10th year of war.

Chapter II: “Unexpected alliances”

It had been a couple of months since Enehy’s visit to her now future husband, Agamemnon. After Hector’s defeat and the scheme with the wooden horse, the Greeks finally took hold of the imposing city of Troy.
Although mortally wounded by Hector, Agamemnon’s brother, Menelaus was still alive thanks to the remarkable cures of the healer Mahaon.

Arokh had proved himself quite useful to the Greeks and he had soon got into Agamemnon’s good graces. During his stay with the Greek army the Syrian also began to feel quite attracted towards the former priestess, Briseis. However, seeing her constantly in the company of Achilles maid him wait for a more appropriate moment to approach her, as he did not want to get in any disputes with the Greek hero.
That moment was the night the Greeks invaded and burned Troy to the ground.


Agamemnon made his way through the city of Troy, encouraging his men to hasten its destruction and laughing at the poor Trojans who had been unexpectedly attacked in the middle of the night; a possible vengeance for the Trojan attack in which Achille’s cousin had been killed.

After slaying the defenseless king Priam, Agamemnon came across the slave girl that he had been forced to give back to Achilles. It amused him to see her kneeling before the statue of Apollo, the patron god of Troy. He slowly approached her and leaned his head next to hers.

“Too late for prayers, priestess,” he said grabbing her long hair and pulling her to her feet. “I almost lost this war because of your little romance. I want to taste what Achilles tasted. You'll be my slave in Mycenae. A Trojan priestess scrubbing my floors. And at night …… “

Taking advantage of his inattention, Briseis took out a dagger that she had kept hidden in her sleeve and was about to drive it into the side of Agamemnon's neck when an arrow flying at great speed threw it out of her hand. Agamemnon quickly looked back and saw that it was Arokh who threw the arrow, after which he turned to Briseis and slapped her so hard that she lost her balance and fell to the ground, smashing her head against the stone steps.

“My lord,” Arokh called and Agamemnon turned to look at him.

“Thank you Arokh,” he said placing his hand on the warrior’s shoulder.
“You shall be greatly rewarded for this”

“If I may, my lord, there is only one thing I desire.”

“Just name it and it shall be yours.”

“The priestess,” he responded looking down at Briseis who was lying unconscious on the floor.

“What? This one? Impossible! She deserves to die for what she tried to do.”

“Please, my lord, let me have her and I promise she will never bother you again, nor shall I ask anything else from you.”

“What is it with this girl that the greatest warriors fall for her? First Achilles, now you …… Fine! You can have her,” he finally spoke after a moment of silence in which he reevaluated Arokh’s request.

“Thank you, my lord.”

Just as Arokh lifted Briseis off the ground and took her in his arms, Menelaus approached them with quick paces.

“I couldn’t find her brother.”

“Arokh, you know these lands and this city better than any of us. Do you know how she could have escaped?” Agamemnon asked the Syrian warrior.

“I know of a secret passage way inside the city, but I only know where it leads outside the city walls.”

“Then take me there. I want to surprise my dear wife when she makes her escape with that disgrace of a man that she abandoned me for,” Menelaus ordered Arokh and Agamemnon couldn’t hide his amusement at hearing his brother’s words.

Menelaus and Arokh went in front of the palace where each of them mounted on a horse, Arokh taking Briseis with him. At their command, the Syrian warriors who had accompanied their leader Arokh, as well as some soldiers who were under Menelaus’ command followed the two men on their horses and together they stormed through the streets of Troy and out of the city.


Achilles had seen Arokh taking Briseis away but he was too far away to interfere, so mow he was running through the burning city, trying to find a horse to go after them. On his way he had to stop many times and fight off the Trojan soldiers who kept attacking him. He had just killed another soldier and was about to go on his way when a familiar sound made him stop and pay more attention to what was happening around him. He quickly turned and grabbed with one hand an arrow that had been launched in his direction.

“You must be Paris,” Achilles told the archer, who paid no attention to his words and shot another arrow in his direction, which Achilles caught as easy as he had caught the previous one. “Spare your arrows prince, you know you cannot kill me.” Once again Paris was indifferent to his words and prepared a third arrow when Achilles spoke again. “If you kill me you will loose any hope of seeing your woman again. Menelaus is alive and as we speak he is going after Helen. Put down your weapons and let us talk. We can help each other.”

“You’re lying. Helen is safe and far away from here.”

“Where? In your secret tunnel? Yes, she probably is safe but only until Menelaus greets her at the other end. Face it prince, you need my help. Or are you feeling so brave this time and think you will be able to defeat Menelaus and his guards by yourself?”

“Even if you speak the truth, why would you help me?”

“My reasons are my own. We are wasting too much time talking. Do you want to see your woman again or not?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Show me the entrance to the tunnel. If we hurry we might get to Helen before she reaches the other end and then surprise Menelaus.”

Paris climbed down from where he was standing and walked in front of Achilles. They stared in each other’s eyes for a few seconds, Paris having obvious traces of disbelief in his, after which the Trojan prince turned to his left.

“Follow me,” he told Achilles who complied.