The Spirit of Troy
Chapter 1 – A Brother's Bond
Hector's POV
I gazed out at the bowsprit part of the boat. It was sunny with few clouds and little waves lapped at the boat. The gods were welcoming us across the sea, back to Troy.
My little brother approached me across the deck and joined me. Paris. He isn't that little, about half a head shorter than me and with a fair bit of muscle but he has a young heart, him being 17 and me 27, he's always around everywhere with me.
When he heard I was going to Sparta he begged everyone in the palace to let him go too.
I'm awfully fond of him and he always admires me. He still doesn't understand some things sometimes especially when it comes to things about the city like laws. But I reckon the journey has done some good to his wild head of curls.
"Brother" he said in that voice that can pull your heartstrings, "if I was in any trouble or danger would you protect me?"
I was surprised at that question. "Of course I would" I replied then narrowed my eyes slightly in pretended suspicion. "Last time you were like this you were ten years old and you'd just stolen father's horse."
I smiled at the memory. Paris had been desperate to ride a proper warhorse like our father's. He hadn't been allowed until father said so but he snuck into the royal and got Ario the horse out. I caught him on the sidest of side roads in the city, trying to hoist himself up onto Ario's back. I'd laughed and helped him in the end and instructed him on riding in battle.
It was so funny when he fell off trying to hold the reins in one hand and a spear in the other like I do in battle.
"Mmmm," said Paris worriedly, "I've got something to show you."
He led me down below deck and I wondered what could be troubling him. Then I saw a cloaked figure next to him. Was this a joke?
Then the figure took of the hood. I gawked. It could not be real. Helen on our boat!! How could Paris have brought her here!!? She was Menelaus's wife. This was crazy. "Paris," I said, "what have you done?"
"I love her" said Paris simply, "she's pretty and kind and loving and I love her more than Menelaus."
He was right about the pretty part, she was like an angel. I could see how he fell for her but...
"She is Menelaus' wife!" I emphasized 'Menelaus'.
"We can't take her! What's going to happen when Menelaus finds out? We just made peace with Sparta after years and years of enmity. Our father has finally sought peace. Menelaus is going to think we double-crossed him!"
"But she doesn't love him!" said Paris, holding Helen's hand.
This was such an unexpected and untimely occurrence.
"We have to send her back" I said. "We'll sail back to Sparta, explain and leave. I will not risk this fragile alliance! Menelaus is a powerful and easily bad tempered man!"
"He will have found out that I am gone by now" said Helen softly, "I do not wish to put you in danger but giving me back will not be enough for Menelaus. I hated him since my parents sent me to Sparta. I am not a Spartan. Menelaus will want to kill you all out of spite, he's a cruel man."
I looked at the girl sparingly. Different thoughts raced through my mind as I snatched at each possibility. If we took her back with us to Troy, the whole journey will have been a waste. Instead of making things better we would have made it worse. And what would father say?
Paris looked like a boy being caught stealing sweets. Then a determination came into his eyes that I had never seen before. "If you send her back I go with her. I'm not leaving her; I don't care about Menelaus; as long as I can be with her."
No! I couldn't leave Paris in Sparta. Menelaus would surely kill him. But we'd be risking everything taking her back. I didn't know how far I'd go for Paris to have his way. I didn't know what to do.
Maybe I should never have brought Paris on this trip, and then he wouldn't have met Helen and fallen in love with her like he has.
Grrr. "Fine" I said finally, "we take back to Troy."
Helen and Paris gave each other small smiles then Paris told Helen to stay below deck until we reached Troy and came back up on deck with me.
Leaning against the side of the boat again I turned to face Paris.
"Do you know what this could mean for Troy?" I said my voice hard and despairing.
Paris looked at me bravely, "I will not ask you to fight my war," he said.
I shook my head and turned away, "You already have."
Chapter 1 – A Brother's Bond
Hector's POV
I gazed out at the bowsprit part of the boat. It was sunny with few clouds and little waves lapped at the boat. The gods were welcoming us across the sea, back to Troy.
My little brother approached me across the deck and joined me. Paris. He isn't that little, about half a head shorter than me and with a fair bit of muscle but he has a young heart, him being 17 and me 27, he's always around everywhere with me.
When he heard I was going to Sparta he begged everyone in the palace to let him go too.
I'm awfully fond of him and he always admires me. He still doesn't understand some things sometimes especially when it comes to things about the city like laws. But I reckon the journey has done some good to his wild head of curls.
"Brother" he said in that voice that can pull your heartstrings, "if I was in any trouble or danger would you protect me?"
I was surprised at that question. "Of course I would" I replied then narrowed my eyes slightly in pretended suspicion. "Last time you were like this you were ten years old and you'd just stolen father's horse."
I smiled at the memory. Paris had been desperate to ride a proper warhorse like our father's. He hadn't been allowed until father said so but he snuck into the royal and got Ario the horse out. I caught him on the sidest of side roads in the city, trying to hoist himself up onto Ario's back. I'd laughed and helped him in the end and instructed him on riding in battle.
It was so funny when he fell off trying to hold the reins in one hand and a spear in the other like I do in battle.
"Mmmm," said Paris worriedly, "I've got something to show you."
He led me down below deck and I wondered what could be troubling him. Then I saw a cloaked figure next to him. Was this a joke?
Then the figure took of the hood. I gawked. It could not be real. Helen on our boat!! How could Paris have brought her here!!? She was Menelaus's wife. This was crazy. "Paris," I said, "what have you done?"
"I love her" said Paris simply, "she's pretty and kind and loving and I love her more than Menelaus."
He was right about the pretty part, she was like an angel. I could see how he fell for her but...
"She is Menelaus' wife!" I emphasized 'Menelaus'.
"We can't take her! What's going to happen when Menelaus finds out? We just made peace with Sparta after years and years of enmity. Our father has finally sought peace. Menelaus is going to think we double-crossed him!"
"But she doesn't love him!" said Paris, holding Helen's hand.
This was such an unexpected and untimely occurrence.
"We have to send her back" I said. "We'll sail back to Sparta, explain and leave. I will not risk this fragile alliance! Menelaus is a powerful and easily bad tempered man!"
"He will have found out that I am gone by now" said Helen softly, "I do not wish to put you in danger but giving me back will not be enough for Menelaus. I hated him since my parents sent me to Sparta. I am not a Spartan. Menelaus will want to kill you all out of spite, he's a cruel man."
I looked at the girl sparingly. Different thoughts raced through my mind as I snatched at each possibility. If we took her back with us to Troy, the whole journey will have been a waste. Instead of making things better we would have made it worse. And what would father say?
Paris looked like a boy being caught stealing sweets. Then a determination came into his eyes that I had never seen before. "If you send her back I go with her. I'm not leaving her; I don't care about Menelaus; as long as I can be with her."
No! I couldn't leave Paris in Sparta. Menelaus would surely kill him. But we'd be risking everything taking her back. I didn't know how far I'd go for Paris to have his way. I didn't know what to do.
Maybe I should never have brought Paris on this trip, and then he wouldn't have met Helen and fallen in love with her like he has.
Grrr. "Fine" I said finally, "we take back to Troy."
Helen and Paris gave each other small smiles then Paris told Helen to stay below deck until we reached Troy and came back up on deck with me.
Leaning against the side of the boat again I turned to face Paris.
"Do you know what this could mean for Troy?" I said my voice hard and despairing.
Paris looked at me bravely, "I will not ask you to fight my war," he said.
I shook my head and turned away, "You already have."