Cry of Cassandra

Prologue | Cassandra

EDITED

When my twin brother, Helenus, and I were born, the midwives remarked how blessed I was with my looks.

They spoke of how my eyes were a gift from the Goddess Athena herself; a grey-blue so deep as to almost to seem a dusky violet hue.  Though my eyes were unusual, they were not my only feature that caused me to stand out.  

My skin was a nearly translucent, pearly white, save for the perpetual roses at my cheeks and my pouty lips. Mother used to laughingly tell of how the midwives would trace each of my veins in open fascination.  My wispy fiery locks were remarked upon as an unusual color, a vivid red gold.

My beauty soon proved to be a danger.

Women and girls alike soon grew jealous of the attention I received without having lifting a finger, even my own family.

I would often fearfully toddle around the castle having to peer around the next corner for an angry sibling, though I could never quite understand why.

Prince Hector soon became my protector.  I would waddle along after him, trailing his shadow. I always looked up to him worshipfully.  He would lovingly call me his pretty golden shadow and ruffle my hair, as he talked with the other boys while I clung to his tunic. He was better than any security blanket.

I couldn't have been five yet, but in my mind I knew Hector was strong, dependable and loyal. I already knew he had a strong moral compass and I adored him for that.

When he eventually had to leave to begin training for the Trojan army as was tradition for royal princes, I was inconsolable.  I wept two weeks straight after he had told me. My other siblings must have felt a little bad, if not completely, as the bullying ceased for a small time.

The only way they were able to get me to stop clinging to his form was to have him give me a goblet of wine with a sleeping powder of Poppy in it.

When I awoke and realized he was gone, I became sullen, withdrawing into myself.

One day, months later, I quietly crept from my room. I had apparently devised a half-baked scheme to find Hector and either bring him back or stay with him at the temple of Ares.

That was the day I met my "imaginary" golden friend.   While he would eventually be forgotten by me, at least for a time, he never forgot me.

I tiptoed through the marble palace, pausing at every corner to peer into the next hall before continuing on.

There would be a feast for our patron Goddess, Athena, later that night.  I had heard Mama discussing what still needed to be done with the head servants when I had woken up that morning.

I had decided that the chaos would be a wonderful cover for my escape right then.  I had managed to trick my servants and slaves by begging that we play hide and seek.

Soon I had managed to dodge my way through clouds of flour and flying knives moving in tandem out to the chef's garden.  Pausing to sniff at some flowering mint, I continued toddling down the hill towards the valley that lay next to the river Scamander.

After what must have been at least half an hour I had finally managed to make my way to a small, wild olive grove by the river.  Panting, I collapsed under the nearest tree as I lay there in the shadows.

"What are you doing there, little one," a deep voice rumbled, startling me from where I lay like a beached starfish.

I struggled back up as fast as possible, eyeing the stranger warily.  Mama and Papa had warned me about strangers, telling me how dangerous they could be to pretty little girls, especially the male ones.