Through our Eyes

Briseis POV

I started to jog slightly as I wound my way through the crowds that had gathered. My cousins were finally home after two moons in Sparta, discussing a peace treaty between the warrior nation and Troy. I moved faster as I heard talking from the conference room.

"Briseis" I heard a voice I instantly recognized call my name, before I had even seen him.

"Paris!" I exclaimed as I turned and faced him. I threw my arms wide and embraced my cousin. He wrapped his tanned arms around me tightly, his hair tickling my face. After a moment he pulled away and held me at arms length to inspect me.

"Beloved cousin, your beauty grows with each new moon" I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist from behind, lifting me up slightly. I laughed as Hector held me tight to him and gave a small, playful struggle. He set me down and laughed.

"Briseis" he said as he kissed my cheek "A servant of Apollo now, little swan?"

"The young men of Troy were devastated when Briseis chose the virgin robes" My uncle proclaimed as he joined us. I smiled at the attentions of my male relatives. Suddenly, I saw a woman move behind Paris and craned my head for a better look. What I saw must have been perfection in a human form, and my heart ached with jealousy. Her golden hair shone like the sun as it cascaded around her pale frame. She wore white robes that appeared to be woven by Arachne herself, adorned with gold and jewels. No fault could be found in her beautiful and youthful face, set with eyes that were blue and green at the same time. Following my gaze, Paris turned and held out his hand to the woman. She took it and stood beside him,

"Briseis, this is Helen"

"Helen?" It was a name that I had almost grown up knowing, whispered from the lips of men to be the most beautiful mortal on earth. And also married to Menelaus, the King of Sparta. Oh, Paris, what have you done? "Helen of Sparta?"

"Helen of Troy" He answered firmly as he held the woman close to him, like a delicate flower that could blow away any second. She looked at me and I felt ashamed of myself for being judgmental. For all the times I had laughed with Paris and confided in him, I opened my arms and welcomed her as a cousin. I felt the relief wash out of her body as we embraced for the first time. Oh, Paris, what will become of us all now?