A Fallen Destiny

Chapter 2

Cecelia Pov

I could feel the smooth creamy white silk against my shoulders as a servant joined the cloak together by two strings that laid loose onto my chest. Looking out of the doorway that leads onto the balcony, the view of the ocean seemed so vast as it stretched out far and wide. I could feel a shiver rush down my spine, knowing Troy was upon the horizon.

Three weeks had passed, the alliance between Troy and Athens would occur in five. I gave one last glance at my chambers before walking out it had seemed Darius was waiting for me as his servants were behind him carrying piles of luggage. His arm remained gestured out and I slowly linked my arm against his in which he led me towards the docks as our vessel was ready to sail towards Troy.

We proceeded down through our city; my eyes were allured to the Parthenon. It was a symbol of Athens power, it was built in the honor of the goddess of wisdom, Athena.

"Will you stop staring at the piece of rubble" He muttered underneath his breath.

"You are keen to expand Athens empire, yet you are not grateful of where it all started, clearly you need to stop staring so far ahead," I remarked back.

With no response from him, the rest of the walk was in silence as we arrived onto the docks a servant proclaimed our boat was ready for departure. We walked up on the plank and reached the deck, I promptly strolled across the deck and peered over the side, seeing the trireme styled ship had me in wonder. The trireme had three banks of oars at the bottom some had one sail, but this vessel had two it appeared Luke was in a hurry to reach the banks of Troy.

"Your highness, please step away from the side of the ship, we wouldn't want you falling into the ocean and having you swim to Troy."

"Well, I certainly wouldn't want to embarrass you all when I arrive their first." I revealed as the passing sailors chuckled at my response.

My attention was brought towards Darius, he walked to the edge of the railing that gave the view of the lower deck, his hands were clasped behind his back. "Captain all due respect but I rather reach Troy soon rather than later" Darius spoke which caused the gather of sailors and the captain of the vessel to set sail.

As a few days passed and Troy emerged into our sights, it wasn't what I had imagined at first the city front was a beach. Soon enough, the vessel had reached the banks of Troy and I was now walking up the dunes, I found it quite difficult as my sandals would fill up with sand making the bottom of my feet itchy.

Walking along the sand, there was a small building constructed out of sandstone on either side was a Pharaoh sitting on a throne. It had seemed the Trojans had combined Egyptian designs into their temples. The leading stairs were divided at the middle as a platform for a golden statue had appeared as Apollo, the sun god was kneeling on one knee, his bow and arrowing was pointed towards the sky.

I looked ahead of me and there laid Troy. It was indeed beautiful besides from the dunes, it had a magnificent wall that surrounded the city, I had heard tales of it being unbreachable, many lands have tried to conquer Troy yet all were sent home in defeat by a wall. As we got closer, the loud sound of chattering of marketers, children playing, the noise of dogs barking, chickens in a frantic state with the smell of spices and herbs made it all seem surreal.

With two large oak doors being pulled open, as we entered inside the city, a chariot was awaiting us, the people of Troy were all standing aside watching us stand upon the chariot. Two Trojan soldiers came down a main path that linked the entrance towards the palace on horseback and had greeted us.

"The king of Troy welcomes you to our homeland, We are sent to escort you to the palace where his majesty is waiting upon your arrival" the soldiers turned around on their horses and started making their way up with us trailing behind them, the people of Troy erupted in a large roar of celebration and flower petals had started falling from the sky.

It had given me quite a shock yet the smile couldn't be hidden on my face, it made me feel fortunate enough to end this feud though at the back of my mind I could not escape the burden of knowing some of these women have lost their husband due to war.

As we travelled through Troy, the marvelous architecture on their buildings had sent me into a trance, We were currently on the main path heading towards the palace yet every few buildings there would be a gap for another pathway to begin it either led towards a gathering of small houses, trees that led into an open field or farmland. The palace itself was quite unusual yet it somehow blended itself with the rest of the city. It was raised above the city, it reminded me of the Parthenon on Acropolis hill back at home.

After being in a daze by the beauty and serenity of Troy, we stopped at another pair of large oak doors, the soldiers waved to the two men above and they pulled open the gate. As we rolled into the courtyard of the palace immediately hearing swords clashing together.

Looking to my left was a training ground for Trojan soldiers, I didn't expect it to be so close to the palace. As back at home our training and military fortress laid at the entrance of Athens. It was my father idea to place a military base at the front as it showed power, strength and bravery yet my mother argued for a grand entrance.

As the chariot stopped, Darius got off first and held out his hand which I took lightly and stepped onto the firm ground. "Please wait here as we inform the king of your presence" the soldiers dismounted their horses and walked inside the palace.

"Thought the king of Troy would at least be standing at the front waiting for us, seems Trojans have no sense of manners" I rolled my eyes at Darius comment, he was never a patient man.

"Hey, look out!" I heard a solider shout out, turning around I was collided with a back of another solider soon falling straight onto my back and lying on the ground.

"Are you alright?" I looked up; my eyes were directly looking into the sun until a face appeared before the sun. My eyes took a while to adjust but starring right at me were a pair of ocean eyes.

Though the back of my head pounded, I was alright. "Yes, I'm fine" the ocean eyes offered his hand and my hand slipped perfectly into his. He gently wrapped his hand around mind and pulled me up from the ground.

"You Idiot! Cecelia stay out of the way" my hand slipped away from the strangers as I was pulled behind Darius.

"Do you not have eyes! You could have gotten the queen of Athens badly hurt!" Darius shouted at the poor solider though I felt my head feel more worse.

I placed my hand onto his arm, "Darius its fi- "

"No, your right" the stranger kneeled onto one knee his eyes were pointed down towards the dirt. "Please forgive me I should have been more aware of my surrounding I didn't mean any harm towards you"

"It was simply an accident, are you alright?" I replied, the solider stood back onto his feet, he simply gave a smile, "No need to worry about me, your highness" his sparring partner came beside him and started trying to pull him away soon the ocean eyes solider gave a last bow and picked up his helmet while his sparring partner rushed him away.

The soldiers rushed out and invited us inside the palace, my arm linked around Darius as we started to walk inside, my head turned around to see an empty courtyard.