Agarista of Troy: A Journey of War, Love, and Return

Chapter 7: The Graves of the Fallen

The walk to the graves was a somber one. I had asked to go alone, though Cleathes stayed close, watching from a distance. As I approached the burial sites, my heart ached with the weight of all that had been lost.

The first grave I visited was that of my cousin, Astyanax. He had been only a child when he was thrown from the walls of Troy. I knelt beside the small, unmarked mound of earth and placed a handful of flowers on the grave.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. "You deserved more."

Next, I visited Hector's grave, my uncle—the great defender of Troy. His bravery had been legendary, but it had not been enough to save our city. I placed more flowers on his grave and bowed my head in silence.

Finally, I came to my father's resting place. Paris, the man who had sparked a war with his love for Helen. I knelt beside his grave, my heart heavy with the weight of the legacy he had left me.

"Father," I said softly, "I have returned."