In the evening, I watched as Achilles scrubs Patroclus's face with a damp cloth from a far. He removes the shell necklace that's clasped around his neck and placed it in his tunic's pocket.
I sat at the edge where no one could see me but I could see everyone clearly. When the boy was clean, he places one coin over each of the dead
boy's eyes. He then kisses his cousin's forehead and Eudorus handed him a torch, Achilles sets the pyre on fire.
I bit my lip and turned before grabbing a black horse. I made sure that no one sees me before the horse started to gallop to the palace. The guards weren't surprised but rather curious.
"My daughter, you're back!" Father exclaimed as he saw me. I nodded and gave him a weak smile.
"What happened to your neck?!" He asked, his eyes wide as he examined my bruised neck. "Just met a Spartan while I was on my way to Apollo's temple"
Father nodded understandingly and kissed my forehead. "Go get some rest" Father said who had this weary look in his eyes.
"It's Hector, isn't it?" I asked before tears fell from my eyes again. Father nodded sadly and hugged me. I cried at my Father's shoulder before he assisted me towards my chambers.
I couldn't sleep the whole night, I was just seated in my balcony and as I watched the sun rise, I couldn't help but cry again knowing that this is the day. I sniffed and took a quick bath. My eyes were red and swollen from crying the whole night and my neck was bruised. I sighed and put on a dark green gown before deciding to go to Hector's chamber.
"Hector?" I called shakily at the door of his chamber. I stayed behind the door and waited for him to open the door.
"Sister?" Hector's voice rang through my ears as he opened the door, he was already wearing his armor. I immediately hugged him and cried on his shoulder.
"Brother" I sobbed. He soothingly rubbed my back with his hand, trying to calm me but I hugged him tighter.
"Brother... you can't" I said and shook my head. He pulled me out of the hug and smiled sadly.
"I have to sister"
"I... I finally met.. the man that I want... to spend my life with" I sobbed.
"I'm happy for you, sister"
"It's... it's Achilles.... brother"
Hector froze and looked at me making me cry even more. I continued crying as he pulled me into his arms. "If.. if I die today. Will you please take care of Andromache and Scamandrius?"
"You won't die" I cried. If Hector dies, the whole city will die with him. Father is too old to even try and build Troy again. Paris is too stubborn to even follow my brother's command. He is still young and has a lot of things to learn along the way. And as for me, I am emotionally depressed. I can't think straight. He just can't die. Hector can't die. He is ready to rule the country. He just can't die.
And if Achilles dies, my heart will also die with him. I have finally met the love of my life and he will be taken from me? I didn't know what to do. My heart is torn in half as I cried, my knees weak as Hector held me in his arms.
"Please just promise me, sister"
I shut my eyes and gasped for air, finding it hard to breathe. "Promise me, Selene"
I slowly nodded. I held him and started praying in my head. "Here, when I found this on the ground. My world shattered. But when I heard you call my name, I felt hope for our city" He pulled away and showed me my gold crescent moon necklace before he gently turned me around, my heart aching as his warm fingers brushed against my skin.
"Take care of yourself, Selene. You are Troy's hope and light" He said, his eyes red as he tried not to cry while looking at me.
I don't usually pray but please guide my brother.
My Father and his counselors sits below the blue canopy. Paris and I sits near them, but not with them. He doesn't look at anybody. I had my head raised and stared at the battlefield with no emotions. People were careful to avoid looking at us.
I took a deep shaky breath as Achilles stops one hundred yards from the walls. He steps down from the chariot and walks towards Troy's gates.
Achilles stands alone in the huge field. He looks up but I avoided his gaze, even though I felt him look at me.
"Hector!" His loud powerful voice filled the field.
"No father ever had a better son." I heard Father say to his eldest son. I closed my eyes as tears started to fall again.
Hector turns to Glaucus before turning to Paris and they both embraced. "You're the best man I know." Paris said.
I didn't turn to them, instead I looked straight. Listening to Achilles shout my brother's name over and over again.
"You are a prince of Troy." Hector said. "I know you'll make me proud."
"Sister?" I heard Hector called from behind me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned to him. "Brother"
"Do you remember me telling you that you will always be Troy's greatest warrior?" Hector said. I nodded and bit my lip.
"They may think of me as Troy's greatest warrior but you are the true warrior of Troy"
I shook my head softly making Hector chuckle. "One day, a stubborn Princess will rule over Troy" He said making me frown. "But that stubborn Princess is very powerful. More powerful than you could ever imagine"
"You don't have to go" I pleaded, Hector smiled at me sadly as he cupped my cheeks with his hand. "I..I can't do this all alone"
"I can't do this without you"
"Selene" He whispered as tears filled his eyes. "There's no moon, if there's no sun" My voice breaking as my lips quivered. Hector is the son of the sun god, Apollo and I am the daughter of the moon goddess, Selene. Without the sun shining during daytime, there will be no moon in the evening.
"There's no Selene if there's no Hector" I finally broke. The walls that I have built over the past few years have finally broke as I stared at my brother. I have never cried in front of my people but knowing that my brother and my lover will be fighting to their death? I no longer cared if they see me weep.
"I love you, brother" I said to him and hugged him. "Remember what I told you. I love you so much, sister" Hector said and repeatedly kissed my forehead before he decided to pull away.
I wiped my tears as he pulled his helmet onto his head and started to descend. I turned to Paris who wanted to cry but had this brave face on. He turned to me and gave me a short nod before taking my hand in his.
We watched as Hector walks toward Achilles. Everything is very quiet. No one dared to make a single noise. Even the birds seem to know what's happening.
Hector says something to Achilles but we couldn't hear it because they were far away. Achilles was expressionless as he stared at my brother.
I watched as Achilles threw his helmet. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath at his harsh move. Hector pauses a moment before removing his own helmet and tossing it aside.
After they talked, Achilles draws his sword. Hector does the same. They charged at each other. We've seen extraordinary fighting before, but I couldn't imagine that this day would come. My brother and the love of my life fighting.
Every swing is a death blow countered. The rapidity of the exchange is breathless. This was so different from our sword fights.
Achilles stabs at Hector's face and Hector ducks at the last moment, the sword point puncturing the air above his head. Achilles released Hector from his grip and takes another mighty swing.
Hector is sweating and breathing heavily. Achilles is not. I bit my lip as I looked at Achilles. He looked nothing like the playful Achilles that I met in the temple. He looked like a beast in this field.
I held Paris' hand tightly as Achilles' blows force Hector back, my brother somewhat steps on a rock and falls to the sand. Achilles stands above him.
Hector stands, panting. I curse as I knew his strength was fading fast as he spends everything on one last try. He charges, swinging with explosive fury, putting all his might into each blow. I grasped the railings tightly.
Achilles was swinging his sword. Hector blocks and blocks, but doesn't have the strength for a new assault.
I froze as Achilles' spear bore into Hector's shoulder. I watched as Achilles thrust his sword all the way into my brother's heart.
Everyone was silent.
"Nooooo!!!!!" I shouted as Hector fell. Achilles looked up but there was no mercy or guilt in his face as he looked at me.
"No! Hector!" I shouted and tried to run but Paris quickly caught me and secured me in his arms as I cried for my brother.
Achilles pulls out his bloody sword and walks to his chariot. "Paris, go to Father!" I shouted as I saw his counselors carrying him. Paris hesitated but ran to Father.
Silence. Silence everywhere. No victory cry from the Greeks.
I ran down the stairs to stop Achilles but I was too late when I reached the gates, I watched as he ties the other end of the rope to the back of the chariot.
I turned and cried for my brother's loss.