Perseus: Excidium Troiae

Three

A/N: Just so you know, this arc is going to be five chapters long. When the arc is complete this story goes on hold till I complete the first arc of another story. I hope you all like where this is going and I want to inform you that all I will be writing in the first few chapters of this introductory arc is to set up the plot. The tournament in this chapter is inspired by the Blood Rite from ACOSF and was not held in ancient times by the Trojans. It's just something my addled and drunk mind decided to add to this story.

When Paris shows up, then the real tale begins. I want to give depth and meaning to the friendship between Aeneas, Perseus and Hector, so please bear with me while their friendship is solidified. On another note, Achilles will be making an appearance soon. Enjoy!

HECTOR stiffened when they got to the Cicilian Thebans. His eyes flitted over to the unveiled girl between the two women. She was beautiful, he couldn't deny that. But that didn't matter—because he didn't want to get married. The three Thebans bowed before the royal family and when Hector's father motioned for them to rise, the girl lifted her head and her eyes met his.

He was drawn into her deep and clouded gaze and he found himself admiring her bright green eyes. He shook his head and looked away.

"Welcome to Troy," King Priam said, his voice hardly welcoming. "We hope you will enjoy your stay here. Where is your father, Princess?"

The girl's lips parted to speak and Hector saw a flash of pearly white teeth. She didn't get the chance to, however, because at that moment Hector's father caught sight of King Eetion, descending from the massive ship, a young man in robes and his guards behind him. "Ah, there he is," Priam said.

The king walked over to them, his head held high. Hector took note of his appearance—curly grey hair, a trimmed beard and robes which would make even King Priam jealous. Eetion bowed to Hector's parents when he stopped next to his daughter and the two veiled women.

"It's good to see you again, King Priam," The man rose from his display of respect for the King of the land. "It has been long."

"Far too long, in my opinion," Hector's father said. "Welcome to my homeland. Let us go to the palace. We shall celebrate your arrival with a feast."

As the two kings led the procession back to the Palace, Hector glanced at his sides and then sighed in relief.

"We are not going anywhere, Hector," Perseus reassured. "We'll be with you till the end." Aeneas gave him a subtle nod of agreement and as he walked behind his future wife and her family, the Heir Apparent couldn't help but feel grateful that he had met them all those summers ago.

-X-

PERSEUS bit his tongue to keep his gasp inaudible. It was his first time in the palace and he couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. The place had been decked out in the finest luxuries and filled with items of the absolute best quality. While it wasn't so unpleasant, per se, there was the lingering trace of sheer foreignness that made Perseus want to pass out.

He smiled in Aeneas and Hector's directions, happy that his brother and friend would be getting the best life had to offer. As they marched to the grand hall, his eyes flickered around, trying to spot her—trying to see if she was alright. He barely noticed when Creusa moved from Aeneas' side and came to a stop next to him.

"You're looking for Cassandra, aren't you?"

He jerked a bit at her voice, then chewed on his bottom lip. Was he so easy to read? Shaking his head, he replied contradictingly, "Maybe." Creusa shot him a look of pity and he glanced down. He hated pity, perhaps more than he hated Apollo at that moment. Cassandra was a friend—and she could have been something more if his sodding mentor hadn't interfered.