Unforeseen

I used this chapter to bring a lot of the other characters into the story. I mention Hector and Paris' mother, Hecuba, but not by name. Helen makes her debut into this chapter. Not a big part but I noticed she hadn't been in the story until now. I also brought Glaucus, Hector's second in command into the story. I liked the character and you don't see him mentioned in any other stories so…I hope you enjoy this and I am so sorry for the wait. Please read and review!



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Chapter 8



Andromache watched Hector dress himself into his armor from the bed. She wanted to scream for him to stay to not do battle with the Greeks. Hector was the praised General of Troy and it was his duty to protect her and its people. When they were arranged to be married she realized she would have to compensate her opinions and feelings when it came to military issues. Theruld uld be times when he would be gone for days to months at a time. This particular war was no different. "What has father said of Briseis?" she asked timidly. Briseis being missing disturbed Hector to no end. She had always admired his attitude in regards to her cousin in law.



Hector placed his forearm straps in place and began to tie them harshly. "He believes she is a lost cause, " he almost spat in anger. "He fears that if we try to negotiate her safe return that we will only cripple ourselves in the face of the Gods, " he drawled forcefully as he finished tying the straps. "I have tried everything to convince him…" he trailed off unable to finish his own words.



Andromache stood from the bed and approached her husband swiftly. "Calm yourself, " she coaxed softly. "Perhaps in the midst of battle she will be able to escape unnoticed." She offered hopefully, for both of them.



Hector stared into her eyes and wanted nothing more than to love away the troubled look they held. He knew she was just as worried over Briseis as he was. The two were like sisters and they were practically inseparable. "I love you, " he whispered as he leaned in to give her a loving, slow kiss. How he loved the woman before him. She was his everything and he was thankful to the Gods for her. She had given him a son, heir to the thrown of Troy. She gave him a reason to live other than his duty as Prince and his duty of General.



"You will find her, " she whispered with reassurance. "Or she will you you."



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Briseis stood frozen in place as she took one last look around the tent. Even though she had only spent two days there she would have many memories of it, good and bad. I don't want to go she thought with sorrow as she let a stray tear fall down her cheek. She was eternally grateful to Achilles for his unwarranted treatment towards her. Till the present moment she still could not understand why he did treat her so well. From the stories she had heard of the great warrior he was nothing like she expected. I want to stay she told herself, or more like tried to convince herself. But she knew she could not abandon her family, people or her duty to Troy. But you can abandon Achilles she closed her eyes making more tears falls. Her emotions were torn beyond belief.



The flaps to the tent flung open and in walked Achilles. She quickly wiped away her tears and tried to gather her composure. She met his eyes and this time, she did not falter from his piercing gaze. She was captivated by the man before her. The warrior that had taken her heart with his almost barbaric but affectionate ways. The look in his eyes told her that he did not want her to go either. She could see pain in them, almost fear. Why does he wish to send me away she wondered sadly.



"It is time, " he reminded ceremoniously.



All she could do was nod as she tried desperately to hold back her tears. Her lip began to tremble from her effort and she closed her eyes. I can't! By the Gods I don't understand why but I don't want to go she told herself.



He could see her torment and it pained him greatly. "Briseis…" he started.



"…I don't wish to go!" she cried out helplessly. "Apollo forgive me but I can't…" she let her words fall unable to finish them.



He clenched his jaw trying to hold his own emotions back. "You must go…" he whispered through his teeth. He felt as if his heart wasng rng ripped from his chest and burned before him. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and hold her forever, safely. In all his life no one had ever captured his heart. No one had shown him that life was more than war and glory.



She rushed toward him and grabbed his hands kneeling before him. "Please! I beg you! Don't do this…" she cried desperately. "You have shown me so much…" she trailed off into a fit of quiet sobs.

He kneeled down in front of her and framed her face with his h. ". "You have shown me so much more, " he corrected fondly. "There is nothing I want more than to take you with me…but I cannot."



"Why?" she asked not understanding. If she were willing to go and he wanted her to go…why? It wasn't as if he feared what the Gods may think.



"Your family will need you in times to come, " he answered. "As you said before, Agamemnon will not leave these shores until he has Troy or until he has no more men to fight his war. It will take many lost battles to get through to him. As long as the walls of Troy stand the city is impenetrable…you'll be safe, " he tried to explain to ease her mind.



"But I will never see you again, " she whispered sadly.



He wiped her forever falling tears gently and shook his head slowly. "I would kill a thousand men and swim the Aegean…just to see your face again, " he declared lowly.



"Please don't…" she was cut off when he leaned forward and kissed her with desperation. She cried into the kiss and ran her hands through his trousled locks. The kiss turned into a frantic worried one. They both wanted to cling to the moment forever, but they knew it would last.



"Achilles?" Patroclus called from outside the tent.



They reluctantly pulled away from one another and rested their foreheads together. "You can do this, " he whispered with encouragement as he stroked her cheek. "You are strong."



She nodded knowing he was trying to help ease her anxiety and his as well. "I'm ready, " she acknowledged.



He stroked her cheek a moment longer then helped her stand. They made their way outside the tent to be met by Patroclus and Eudorus.



"I have prepared your horse my lord, " Eudorus assured handing the reigns to Achilles. "Safe journey."



Achilles nodded and turned to Briseis. She stepped forward and grabbed the saddle as Achilles hoisted her onto the seat and quickly hoisted himself up behind her.



"Are you sure you want to do this?" Patroclus asked uneasy.



Achilles looked over the camp one time then looked too Patroclus. "This is a pointless war. We leave when I return, " without another word he guided the horse out of the camp and towards the city.



Patroclus and Eudorus watched as they rode off towards the city.



"What makes him think the Trojans won't kill him on sight?" Patroclus wondered.



Eudorus never took his gaze from the pair, "The woman with him is no slave woman, but the Lady of Troy. They will not risk harming her to kill him." He smiled. "Also…he is Achilles."



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Andromache followed closely behind her husband as they made there way into the thrown room where Priam, Paris and Helen were waiting for them. May the Gods be with us Andromache prayed as she walked to stand next to Helen and the men started to talk amongst themselves.



"How is baby Astyanax?" Helen asked thoughtfully with a helpless expression.



Andromache smiled hesitantly, "He is well, our handmaiden is watching over him for the moment." When Helen arrived in Troy with Paris she was so enraged with him and Hector. She couldn't believe that Hector would allow Paris to bring the Queen of Sparta knowing it would cause King Menelaus to become angry. Then she realized tPariParis was a sneaky fellow and he probably hadn't let Hector know what he was up too until it was too late. She admitted she held ill will towards Helen even after her arrival but that distaste began to weaken every time she saw her.



"I feel so horrible for all that has happened, but…" Helen trailed off with tears in her eyes. She knew the people of Troy would probably never except her as their princess or their queen. She was the cause of all their sorrows and she saw it on their faces every time she looked at them. Her only comfort was Paris and Hector had shown care for her. She was going to give herself back to Menelaus hoping it would cause the Greeks to leave Troy, but Hector had talked her out of it. At times she thought Paris' family were too kind to her.



"I must admit I was…flustered when you arrived. I was silently calling Paris and Hector every name in the book at their stupidity, " Andromache admitted. "But then I realized something…wars have always been over the most ridiculous. War is ridiculous to begin with but…it has always been over land, religion or greed. If there must be war…then love is as good a reason as any." She hoped her words comforted the newly found Princess of Troy.



Helen smiled thoughtfully, "Thank you Andromache."



Andromache smiled and nodded then turned her attention back her family.



"Glaucus is preparing the first wave assault, " Hector informed his father formally. "Sunrise is in an hour, we will attack just before dawn." He hoped his attitude of the situation would change his father's mind. Now he understood what his mother meant when she said he was as stubborn as his father. How I wish you were alive now mother he thought with a bit of sorrow. If she were still alive then perhaps his father would not be so quick to jump at the opportunity to fuel a war.



Priam could tell by the way his son spoke he was still against the attack and not wanting to lead the men into battle. "I have spoken with the High Priest and he says the Gods will be in favor of us, " Priam informed both Hector and Paris. "We must honor the Gods if we are to stay in our position of power."



"We will need their praise, " Paris added into the conversation feeling like he needed too. He felt extremely guilty for all that had happened, especially his dear cousin Brs.


Hector was about to speak when a soldier rushed in, "Prince Hector, forgive my intrusion but there is a rider approaching the city."



Hector looked confused for a moment then looked between his father and his brother. "Just one?" he asked the soldier making sure he heard correctly. That doesn't make any sense? Why would Agamemnon send a lone rider? Surely he isn't ready to surrender now? Or is he?



The soldier nodded with a bow, "Yes sire, just one they are almost to the front gate."



Hector quickly sprung into action and made his way to the outside thrown room that overlooked the plain of land in front of the city that led to the beaches.



"Do you think it's a surrender?" Helen asked Paris and Andromache with hope as everyone followed Hector.



"I find it unlikely, but we can only hope, " Paris offered as he took her hand and kissed it.



Andromache watched the young lovers and all her ill thoughts were shattered in that moment.

They reached the thrown room at the overlook and Hector stepped up next to Glaucus who was standing at the wall watching the riders approach. It was still dark out and the faces of the riders could not be seen.



"What do you think it is my lord?" Glaucus asked glancing at Hector in wonder.



"I don't know but post archers on the walls and extra guards at the gate. I don't want to take any chances but lets see what they have to say, " Hector ordered as he turned to make his way to the front gate.



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I wanted to continue this chapter but it's been awhile since I've posted and I figured everyone would rather get at least this much instead of having to wait longer for more. I hope everyone enjoyed the 'variety' of characters that was in this chapter. I really enjoyed writing this and I hope everyone liked it. Please read and review I would love to hear everyone's opinion on this.