The Peculiar Trojan War – Part 3
“Are you mocking me, Hector?”
King Menelaus of Sparta was convinced this was a Trojan trap. Why would the commander of Troy, who had remained unseen during their invasions of allied states, now step forward to return Helen?
And with that wretched scoundrel Paris in tow? Before being a husband betrayed, Menelaus was a king of Sparta. It was only natural that he suspected trickery or deception.
Menelaus glared at Paris and Hector, his eyes blazing with fury.
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“Did you think showing me my stolen wife and that trash would make me lose my reason and charge at you? Or is this some scheme foretold by Apollo, the god you serve? What exactly are you plotting?”
“It is no scheme,” Hector replied calmly. “The Pluto we now serve values justice above all else.”
“What did you say?”
“As proof, we will return the woman my foolish brother took.”
At Hector’s gesture, soldiers nudged Helen forward. With her head bowed low, she slowly walked toward Menelaus.
Step. Step.
The expression on Menelaus’s face as he watched her approach was complex, a storm of emotions: anger, bitterness, regret, and sorrow. In the end, he said nothing until Helen stood by his side.
“Do you think this will make me withdraw my forces and return home?”
“Of course not,” Hector replied, his tone even. “We have also prepared a considerable amount of compensation as reparation. As for Paris... he may be my brother and a prince of Troy, but I have reprimanded him quite severely.”
“...What?”
Unarmed servants emerged from the Trojan ranks, carrying chests filled with gold and silver treasures. A golden spectacle glittered before Menelaus’s eyes, alongside Helen by his side. From atop his horse, Hector remained steadfast, while Paris sat beside him, his face swollen and bruised beyond recognition.
Paris had clearly endured a severe beating; even his lips were swollen. For Menelaus, the sight of his battered rival only intensified his anger.
“All this because of that wretched Paris,” Menelaus muttered. “We crossed the sea and came all the way here because of him.”
“We are not asking you to withdraw your forces entirely,” Hector responded.
After a brief exchange, Menelaus shot one final glare at Paris before returning to the Greek camp. Helen, along with the servants carrying reparations, followed him.
Naturally, the Greek soldiers greeted their return with bewildered expressions.
“Wait. Isn’t that Helen? Did Troy really send her back?”
“I can’t believe they’re surrendering her so easily. If this was the plan, why didn’t they do it sooner?”
“Hold on. Does this mean the war is over? With the Spartan king reunited with his wife, are we going back to Greece?”
“I thought we’d gain glory in battle... but is it all for nothing now?”
“No way. Do you think the leaders will retreat without achieving anything?”
On the first day of the Trojan War, there was no clash between the armies of Greece and Troy.
The Next Day – Greek Camp
In Agamemnon’s tent, the commanders gathered to discuss the situation.
“They returned Helen without a fight. Does this mean they fear the strength of our alliance?”
“Hah! They probably got cold feet when they saw our troops.”
“But why did Hector mention Pluto? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Invoking a god’s name to intimidate us, perhaps?”
“Still, does this mean we’re supposed to return to Greece now?”
All eyes turned to the man who spoke last. No one wanted to return empty-handed after the expenses, resources, and hardships of their journey. At the very least, they expected to sack Troy, plunder its wealth, and claim the spoils of war.
“That is absolutely out of the question!”
“We’ve endured too much to turn back now!”
“At the very least, we should take Paris’s head!”
“I, too, have no intention of retreating,” Menelaus declared. Though his tone was firm, his expression was troubled. He understood why the other kings had heeded his call for help, and he, too, wanted Paris dead.
“This doesn’t sit well with me. What glory is there in a war without monsters?” Nestor muttered.
“Are you of the same mind, Polydueces?”
Both Nestor and Polydueces, warriors who had trained in Pluto’s sanctuary in Thebes, appeared reluctant to fight. Knowing that Hades sided with Troy and that this war involved mere mortals rather than mythical beasts, they saw little appeal in participating.
“Troy worships Pluto alongside Apollo. You’re aware of this, aren’t you?”
“The training grounds in Thebes? Hmm. I suppose... this is a prelude of sorts. Let’s wait and see how things unfold.”
Even Achilles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, seemed unimpressed. For those who had battled legendary monsters, fighting mere mortals felt trivial.
As the generals discussed their plans, a shimmering mist of iridescent light began to rise before them. The unmistakable sign of a god’s intervention instantly heightened their attention.
“Why have you not advanced?”
An overwhelming presence filled the tent. Gleaming armor, a spear, and a shield accompanied the ethereal beauty of the goddess who now stood before them. There was no doubt—this was Athena, the goddess of war.
“Glory in war is within your grasp. Prove to me that the heroes of Greece are not cowards!”
With these words, the goddess vanished as swiftly as she had appeared. The Greek commanders, invigorated by her divine presence, drew their swords with renewed determination. Agamemnon rose from his seat.
“Athena stands with us! I will see Troy fall and dedicate its ruins to the goddess herself!”
Within the Walls of Troy
Meanwhile, inside the city, a messenger from the Greeks delivered their demands to the Trojans.
“...If you surrender Paris’s head, we will withdraw.”
Hector, the commander of Troy, ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Returning Helen wasn’t enough. Of course, it wouldn’t be. These invaders had always sought to destroy Troy.
Faced with the overwhelming forces of the Greek alliance, Troy’s resources were stretched thin. While Hector was the greatest warrior of Troy, he doubted whether he alone could turn the tide.
As he stared at the map, deep in thought, a woman entered his chambers—his sister Cassandra, favored by Apollo.
“Brother.”
“Yes, Cassandra? What is it?”
“A prophecy from Apollo.”
As soon as she spoke, a radiant light burst from her body. The overwhelming presence of Phoebus Apollo descended upon her, filling the room with warmth and divine authority.
“Hector, blood of the one I cherish, Cassandra.”
“My lord Apollo!”
“Take courage. Remember, you are the commander and greatest hero of Troy.”
The sun god’s divine energy enveloped Hector, filling him with strength. As Apollo’s presence began to fade, his final words echoed like a divine decree:
“Fear not. I and many others from Olympus will protect Troy.”
Gods, protect Troy.
On the Plains Beyond Troy
The armies of Troy and Greece faced each other, ready for battle. Standing apart from the fray, Nestor and Polydueces watched from a distance.
“They’re young. Full of energy. Back in my day, we faced monsters...”
“Haha! Let the young ones have their moment. We’ll stay out of it.”
“I agree, Nestor. Helen’s been returned, and this isn’t a fight against monsters.”
Both sides seemed satisfied with the absence of the elder heroes, each believing it increased their own chances for glory.
Among the armies, legendary figures roused their troops: Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons and daughter of Ares; Aeneas, son of Aphrodite; Diomedes, second only to Achilles in strength; and Ajax, the towering warrior.
Clink. Clang.
“Raise your shields and spears! The enemy before us is an offering to the gods of Olympus!”
“Drive them back and reclaim our peace, brave warriors of Troy!”
As soldiers rallied, Agamemnon and Hector locked eyes across the battlefield.
The gods themselves moved swiftly in the heavens.
“Apollo, don’t you hold a grudge against Troy? What is it about Cassandra that makes her so special?” Poseidon taunted.
“Uncle, I’m sorry, but I cannot stand down this time,” Apollo replied.
“What? Are you putting your faith in Hades, who sides with Troy?”
“Athena! Is this how you repay me for the toil I endured after the great flood?”
“Hmph. Perhaps that’s why you always lose to me.”
Even among the gods, tensions flared. As a warm breeze swept over the battlefield, created by Zephyrus, the two armies’ commanders gave their orders.
“Advance! All forces, attack!”
“For honor and glory! Charge forward!”
Thus began the Trojan War.