Paris (Troy) / Reader - Part 5
Paris stared at the healer with a shocked look on his face. He leaned back in the chair as he processed the news and then shifted his gaze from the healer to you. You were laying perfectly still and Paris had to focus his eyes on your chest that kept rising and falling very slowly and shallowly, the only visible evidence that you were still alive, otherwise you looked as pale as a ghost and there were dark circles under your eyes. Paris lay down beside you and held you the entire evening, the night and the next morning. He forced to keep himself awake, just in case you woke up and needed something, but during the entire night you made no sound… even though you usually spoke in your sleep, which amused Paris greatly.
It was one of those things that he loved about you and during these four years he had engaged himself in countless conversations with you while you were sleeping. Those conversations, of course, had not made any sense and he had never told you about your nightly blabbering but he enjoyed them greatly and therefore it was almost painful for him to watch you sleeping in silence, completely still… almost like a corpse. A corpse of a person who had just died and the life was still leaving the body. Paris scolded himself when he realized what he was thinking and he ordered the priestesses to make offerings to Apollo who was one of the Gods of healing and medicine and Epione who was the Goddess of soothing of pain.
By the noon your husband had to leave the bed because he knew that there were many councils to be held and countless of diplomats to meet. Somehow the news about the queen’s illness had reached the streets of the city already and the people were getting restless, especially because it had been somewhat obvious that Paris had not participated in the ruling duties actively and knowing this was making people anxious; what if they lost their ruler and their homeland would get seized by the Trojans or some other foreign nation?
Paris met the diplomats and spoke to the people. He assured everyone that the queen would be fine soon and in the meantime the healers were attending her constantly. Paris also swore that he would stand by the people of Thassos no matter what because he had fallen in love with the Emerald Island and its people. After finishing the speech and attending all the scheduled meetings Paris returned to you and sat on the edge of the bed. He took one glance at you and barely managed to cover his mouth when he burst into tears.
- I’m sorry, Paris. you whispered because you heard Paris sobbing helplessly somewhere near. You were too weak to open your eyes or even move your hand and the words that had escaped your lifeless lips had no real voice in them. “I need you to be strong now” you whispered as a tear fell on your cheek. Paris leaned down and pressed a kiss on your burning hot forehead and whispered “Of course, just rest, (Y/N)” before wiping your face with a cloth that was soaked in cold water.
The days passed like this; you were almost constantly unconscious, suffering from high fever and the healers tried their very best to bring the fever down. You gained consciousness occasionally and during those times you tried to eat and drink something but as soon as you left the bed, your condition got worse and the fever jumped high again which then drained the life out from you. Your hand had gotten infected and the sea urchin had been poisonous and this combination of two dangerous things brought you to the edge of death many times. So close actually that the diplomats had started to make the necessary arrangements for the funeral and they had also begun negotiating with other kingdoms about arranging an alliance and sealing it with a marriage. All this they had done behind Paris’ back because your husband was not ready to even think about the possibility that you would die and if you did… he would surely never remarry. So, it was obvious that Paris of course was against such plans and even banished a couple of counselors for that but even your husband had to admit, after watching you laying in bed unconscious or in great pain for a month, that some drastic decisions had to be made.
- But I will not give up. Paris said with a firm, yet slightly shaky voice.
In his opinion it was absurd that the counselors even suggested that the nature should be allowed to take its course, which would mean that the healers would be ordered to go home and then you would either live or die. Paris however did the exact opposite; he sent a messenger to Troy and arranged different medicines from the far Orient, Persia as well as Egypt. Troy after all was a lively merchant city because it was located by a narrow waterway that led from the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea and since sailing was the fastest and the easiest form of transportation, it transformed the seas into highways and the people who controlled the waterways basically controlled the trade, King Priam was one of these people.
You had been right about Paris; now that he had been forced to grab the bull by the horns he had actually transformed from a prince into a king and even though one month was a very short time to win anyone’s trust, he had managed to do it. It had been critically important because even the small disasters had a huge impact in a tiny community where everyone knew everyone and nothing ever really changed. Besides the people were somewhat suspicious about outsiders and if Paris had not stepped up to the plate it could have easily pushed the small kingdom into a chaos. And then there were the gold mines which were very appealing to many kings of the ancient world and if Paris had not taken reins, the rule of Thassos could have been easily stolen by some greedy conquer.
- Water, please. you sighed when you opened your eyes. It was late afternoon and it was raining… the sound of rain echoed in your bedroom and made you realize that you were actually awake.
You had been laying in bed for almost six weeks now and during that time every muscle in your body had pretty much gone into a strike. Sure you had tried to get out from bed many times but it had always led into soaring fever and eventually unconsciousness. Now however you felt… hungry. Very, extremely hungry and thirsty… and restless. You had to get out from the bed, now! Your hand healed completely, although you had a scar reminding you about the accident, and your fever was gone. The servant rushed to help you to sit and to give you some water.
- Thank you. you said with a voice that was hoarse because you had not been talking for many days… and it had been many weeks since you had had a proper conversation with anyone… except in your dreams. Yes you had had weird dreams where you had talked with your ancestors as well as the gods. You had been on Mount Olympus and watched the world from high up, followed Paris and spoken to him in his dreams, pushed him forward and assured him about his strengths and capabilities. All this had been only a dream… or… you were not so sure.
- Would you like me to get the king? the servant asked.
- No, I… you said and cleared your throat. “I want to take a bath first” you stated and took a closer look of your hand before testing your feet and whether they would carry you or not. The servant arranged a bath immediately and after soaking in the pleasantly cool water for an hour you got dressed and left the room to see Paris.
You walked slowly through the halls and corridors until you reached the throne hall where Paris was currently talking with the counselors. You leaned to a column that was made of white, polished marble and smiled a little as you stalked your husband. You had asked the guard not to announce your presence, just like earlier, many years ago when Hector and Paris had been talking with your father. Finally you stepped out from your hiding place and walked behind Paris, who was deeply concentrated on maps and other documents. Paris however noticed the counselor’s expression changing and when he turned around, he couldn’t really believe his eyes.
- (Y/N)? Paris said with a somewhat puzzled tone that had a deep undertone of surprise. “(Y/N)!” he exclaimed and without a warning he took a massive leap to you and wrapped his arms around you. Paris was relieved and even though you looked a little pale still, he was more than overjoyed to see you looking so… lively. You did not have the dark circles under your eyes anymore and even your lips had their color back, besides, your skin was not burning hot anymore… or freezing cold like it had been every once in a while during your battle against the illness.
You hugged Paris tightly as you enjoyed being hugged by him. Paris dismissed the counselor as well as the guards and after embracing you for many minutes he drew back and placed his hands on your cheeks. You smiled a little as you drowned into Paris’ brown eyes that were filled with relief and love. Your husband leaned closer and pressed his lips against yours but this time he kissed you very softly, almost like he had been worried that he would break you if he let his passion to take control. In his eyes your looked still fragile and ironically you looked somewhat exhausted despite the fact that you had been laying in bed, sleeping or unconscious, for over five weeks.
- I came to ask you… you spoke and paused to clear your throat. “Ask me what?” Paris asked as he tried frantically to search for the answers from your eyes. “I came to ask if the king would join me for a dinner” you said and chuckled a little because being so deeply concerned and anxious even made Paris look quite adorable, almost like he had been a small puppy who needed to find out if his mistress was alright.
- Perhaps we should have a dinner in bed, my love. I do not think it is wise to exhaust yourself by walking around like this. Paris stated firmly, offered you his arm and then started to walk you back to the bedroom. You were still living in your old living quarters because they were big enough and had a gorgeous view, although you and Paris had been talking if it was the time to move to the king’s quarters soon.
- Well, I will be satisfied with any arrangement. you commented with a chuckle. “As long as it includes you and food” you added with a loud laughter.
- I have missed that laughter. Paris stated and notified the first servant that you and he encountered that there would be a feast tonight… no… an early dinner… served in the queen’s bedroom. He helped you back into bed and sat on the edge to keep you company for a moment.
- How is the kingdom? you asked after a long silence. Paris furrowed his brows and asked you with a playful tone
- Are you doubting my ruling abilities?
You burst into laughter and pulled Paris to kiss you. This time, now that you were comfortably laying in bed, he dared to add some passion into the kiss. He was still careful of course but unlike earlier he was not holding himself back so much. He made you to lose your breath as the kiss grew deeper and more demanding, you wrapped your arms around him and let your tongue get tangled with his while Paris’ caressed you through your dress, modestly at first and then more intimately. Finally he pinned your hands against the pillow and told you to close your eyes and relax while he would satisfy you. “It has been such a long time” he whispered against your mouth and then added “I really need to hear you moan my name.”
Paris kissed your neck, using a generous amount of time to ravish the sensitive skin just below your ear. He nibbled your earlobe and murmured sweet nothings as well as described what he was going to do next. Paris moved lower and planted hot kisses on your neckline and then shifted himself between your legs to gather the hem of your chiton-dress. He kissed your inner thigh and traced your lower lips with his fingertips, not allowing himself to proceed any further. He found some ticklish spots on your sides and distracted you a little so when you were laughing, he suddenly kissed your womanhood, letting his tongue wander further, which made your laughter change into a loud moan.
Paris caressed you slowly, he kept his touch relaxing and gentle, just enjoying the sounds you made and the way you sometimes shook uncontrollably when Paris was pleasuring you particularly well. He was very sweet and loving, dedicated and caring. He took small pauses here and there, even then using his skillful fingers to make you feel special until he dived back under the hem of your dress and continued kissing, sucking and licking your most intimate areas. Finally he kept going until you reached your release and became undone for him.
- Come here. you panted after recovering from the intense pleasure and when Paris crawled on top of you, you reached to untie the shawl that was hanging from his hips and wrapped your legs around him. Paris lowered himself on you and attacked your lips as his manhood rubbed against your hot flesh. He kissed you intensely, deeply and passionately and as you moved together, you could feel your husband getting aroused as well. His hard flesh kept rubbing you in the most delicious ways but you knew that there was something else that your husband needed.
You rolled Paris to bed so you ended up sitting on him with your knees on the both sides of his hips. You opened the clasps of your dress so the fabric fell down to your waist, revealing your beautiful breasts, you knew that Paris adored them very much. You moved your hips and when he was fully ready for you, you lowered yourself on him and started to grind yourself against your loved one. Paris watched you with a deeply fascinated expression, his wife taking her pleasure and giving him pleasure as well as a Goddess, moving in a voluptuous, sensuous and mesmerizing way… a siren… like waves… like the only ruler of his heart. You took Paris’ hand and guided him to caress your breasts as you rubbed your most intimate spot to provide yourself some extra stimulation. You moved slowly, enjoying your husband with your every sense, his touch, the taste of his lips, the sound of his moans, the sight of desire in the eyes of your lover and even the scent of your bodies coming together and reaching new heights.
Life continued as it normally did, except from now on you and Paris ruled together. The summer changed into autumn and soon it was winter again, new spring, new summer and new autumn. Unfortunately the life of peace and happiness was broken one winter morning, almost nine years after you had gotten married with Paris when there was a messenger from Troy, sailing across the rough seas to bring the word of sorrow. King Priam had died from the old age and there was going to be a funeral in few days, followed by Hector’s coronation.
You thanked for the message, although the message had not been exactly a happy one, and ordered the servants to prepare the ship as you stared at the raging sea. You did not feel good about this because during winter months Poseidon was always restless and the sea was more treacherous than it usually was. However there was no other choice than to sail to Troy to pay the respects to the fallen king. He after all was Paris’ father and the new king was Paris’, your husband’s brother. Paris was heartbroken to hear that his father was dead, but knowing that King Priam had lived a long, happy and healthy life, brought up two wise and kind sons, which both were happily married, gave Paris comfort and he knew that his father would have wanted him to celebrate his life instead of mourning his death.
It was a gray, cold morning when you and Paris sailed away. You stared at the Emerald Island as it got smaller and smaller, until suddenly, it faded away entirely. However this time there was a small seed of anxiousness that kept growing in your mind as you sailed further out to the sea. There were many strong currents and the northern wind picked up almost instantly when you had sailed to the open sea. Then the rain started to pour, hiding the horizon hidden behind a thick, gray veil, making the sailors disoriented as the storm winds kept pushing the ship further away from the land.
You commanded the oarsmen to row against the wind with the sail lowered but the wind was too strong and the waves were growing right in front of your eyes. You took a glance at Paris who kept looking for land frantically because as long as you had nothing but endless sea in your field of vision, there was no way to tell which the right direction to row at was. The wind kept pulling your hair as well as the hem of your dress violently and as you stood in the bow of the ship. You bowed your head and closed your eyes as you prayed that the skies would clear and the sea would calm down.
However Poseidon was angry and his overbearing rage couldn’t be escaped especially when he was joined by the Theoi Meteoroi, the gods of sky and weather who were commanded by Zeus and Hera, the king and queen of heaven. Your prayers were interrupted when Paris walked to you and asked you if you were worried. You turned to look at him and hid the fear behind a casual smile. You did not want Paris to know how scared you were so you just replied “No” and added that “This is completely normal” with a calm tone.
Then the thunder started roaring over the sea from the south. You stared at the dark gray, almost black clouds getting nearer, covering the gray rainclouds and blocking the daylight almost completely. You gave orders to tie the cargo down, secure the ropes as well as the mast and to get ready for a rough ride. The winds picked up and the waves got even higher as the dark storm clouds covered the skies above. You kept a brave face even though the ship was now completely uncontrollable.
Suddenly there was a loud bang and you were thrown down to your stomach on the deck by the shock wave that was caused by something. You lay down for a moment, wind howling all around although momentarily you couldn’t hear anything but subtle ringing in your ears. You pushed yourself up and saw Paris laying on the deck on his stomach with a nasty looking bruise on his arm. You looked up and realized that a lightning had hit the mast that was now on fire, or the sail was to be more precise and the flames had reached somehow below the deck where the shipment of olive oil was. The mast had broken in two and many of your grew members had gotten hit by wooden splinters that had been thrown out into every direction in the impact of the lightning.
You crawled to Paris and turned him on his back after tearing a bandage from the hem of your dress and tying his arm so he wouldn’t bleed out. “The ship is going to explode if the fire reaches the olive oil containers” one of the oarsmen shouted but you were unable to leave Paris’ side to give orders. You kept brushing your husband’s hair and telling him to open his eyes but for many minutes he didn’t react in any way. Finally you managed to grasp the reality and ordered the crew to put out the fire before it reached the containers… However it was too late already.
Paris opened his eyes and smiled faintly when he saw you, leaned over him as your hair danced furiously in the wind and your delicate profile was illuminated by soft orange glow. He couldn’t hear anything but the wind and low crackling of the fire, coming from the below deck as the flames consumed the wood and tried to get to the clay containers that hosted precious, and highly flammable olive oil. Paris lifted his hand and traced a small cut on your forehead. You turned your head immediately and sighed relieved when you saw Paris… alive… conscious. You pressed a quick kiss on the lips of your husband and asked him if he could stand up. “Yes, I think so” Paris replied and you helped him to sit up.
- Your Majesty, there is nothing we can do. one of the oarsmen said and explained that too many of the crew were injured or even dead and therefore the fire couldn’t be put off. “The ship is lost” he added and very soon after that a big wave came and washed everyone off the deck. You managed to see the wave just in time and to wrap a rope around yourself and Paris so after the wave had washed over the ship, you and your husband, who was barely conscious, were the only ones left onboard.
- The ship is about to sink, Paris! We must jump! you said to Paris as you cupped his face with your hands to force him to focus his attention to you. The ship was rocking from side to side and from bow to stern and you could hear the olive oil containers rolling below the deck and some of them breaking in the impact and adding fuel to the fire.
- I am not a good swimmer, (Y/N). I will not survive this. Paris replied with deep sadness in his eyes.
- Nonsense! I will keep you afloat. you stated with a smile on your face. You removed the rope, helped Paris to stand up by the railing. You took one final look to see land somewhere… anywhere… but all you could see was twilight and flashes of lightning. You followed the waves for a moment to decide when it was the most reasonable and safest to jump and after helping Paris to sit on the railing you gave him a push and watched him disappearing into the black sea. You checked that you were not tangled with any ropes or such and then hopped over the railing as well.
The cold water hit you like thousand knives when you sank into the water. You saw Paris getting pulled away from you by the waves but you managed to swim to him. You wrapped your arms around him and kissed him once quite desperately before focusing on keeping him afloat. You and Paris watched the ship rolling in waves and soon it exploded, throwing wooden debris all over the raging sea. The oil covered the surface and the sea turned into a sea of flames for a few minutes. You and Paris watched the spectacle from a safe distance and after the fire had burned out you dragged Paris nearer to the sinking frame of the ship because there were large pieces of wood floating around and you reasoned that you could hold onto them until the storm ended.
- Just hold on Paris. you said when you had managed to swim to the piece of a mast and wrapped some rope around Paris’s waist and under his arms to keep him attached to the slippery pontoon. “It will be morning soon and the storm will end” you assured him with a calm voice and pressed your cheek against Paris’ back. “Someone will come” you added and tightened your grab from the rope and from Paris waist so you could preserve some heat in the chilly sea.
- I am exhausted. I cannot keep holding on for much longer. Paris said and coughed as he accidentally breathed in seawater.
- But you must. Don’t you dare to give up now! you exclaimed and pressed a kiss on Paris exposed shoulder. You couldn’t see anything, except when the flashes of lightning illuminated the entire sea for a fraction of a moment. However you did not need to see anything to know that the sea was in the state of chaos all around you and the morning was many hours away. You felt Paris shivering from cold or maybe he was crying. The notion made you to hold onto him even tighter even though you could feel your strength abandoning your body as well. The constant rocking was making you nauseous but it didn’t really matter either because you were getting too cold and exhausted to feel anything or sense the rocking motion.
- You could save yourself. Paris mumbled against the wooden mast which he was still holding onto. You had wrapped some rope around him to keep him tied to the float but the storm, all the rocking and nudging had sneakily loosened the ties and the rope was now gone.
- No! Just, keep holding on. you commanded with an exhausted but still somewhat assertive and firm tone. You kept repeating to Paris that the morning was only a couple of hours away and the storm would calm down. The thunder had moved on already and the sea was slightly calmer now than it had been few hours ago.
- I can’t. Paris sobbed and used his all remaining strength to turn to face you, holding onto the floating mast with his uninjured arm. He traced your face in the complete darkness with his shaky fingertips and pressed his shivering lips against yours.
- I will find you in the next life, or in the one after that. he spoke against your lips and smiled before adding “Save yourself!” You kept holding onto the mast as well as onto Paris, but when the next big wave nudged you, you felt your husband slipping below the surface beyond your reach. You shouted “Don’t you let go! Don’t you dare to-“ with a desperate voice but he was gone.
You shouted the name of your loved one until you couldn’t anymore. Your voice broke down and you kept swallowing seawater as you sobbed, screamed and called out for Paris as well as threw curses at Gods who had allowed this to happen. You wrapped your hand around the silver-moonstone-pendant and swore that your love would be tied to this pendant forever… and if this indeed was the end… and if Paris was indeed gone, swallowed by the raging sea and you were left alone, your spirit wouldn’t rest until you would be in the arms of your husband again.
You held onto the mast, barely conscious, hoping that the waves would just stop rocking you or swallow you as well. After some hours the morning came, but the storm continued raging like Poseidon and Zeus had joined their powers to bring you down. You raised your head and looked around but every direction was covered with thick gray veil of rain and endless sea. You closed your eyes, pressed a kiss on the pendant and let the mast go. The waves carried you further away from it instantly and after floating for a moment you stopped struggling and let yourself fall below the surface as well.
All the sounds of the storm faded away as you sank deeper into the cold, gray depths. You raised your head and saw whitecap waves rushing right above you but now that you were below them, they couldn’t hurt you anymore, nothing could. You closed your eyes and after holding your breath for nearly three minutes you finally gave in, inhaled seawater and passed out. The pendant of moonstones and silver slipped over your head as the waves carried your dead body and spun it around. Finally the storm ended. The delegation from Thassos never reached Troy and the ship was never found. No one knew what had happened that night and if Poseidon himself had come from the depths of the sea and swallowed the ship whole.
There was something glimmering in the bottom of the sea, right next to sea urchins, almost like the spiky black creatures had been guarding it… whatever “it” was. The glimmer captured your mind and even though there were many meters to the bottom, you had to try to dive and claim the price. You filled your lungs and dived to the bottom to collect this fair treasure and managed to avoid the poisonous animals. You grabbed the rock that had something sparkly in it and returned back to the surface.
After this you swam to the shore and put the rock into your bag because it was time to go for a lunch with your family. Yes, you were visiting the island of Thassos with your relatives and this was the last day of your stay; tomorrow, early in the morning you would fly back to (your hometown) and your holiday would end. Later that day you were in the hotel room packing your things when you suddenly remembered the rock almost as if it had been calling you. As you took it out from your bag, it fell on the floor and shattered in small pieces revealing a pendant of moonstone and silver that was trapped inside the coral.
You took the pendant and washed it carefully with your toothbrush because you didn’t find anything else to wash it with and after it had been cleaned you marveled its beauty for an hour, completely mesmerized. You headed out from the hotel to a small jewelry store nearby, bought a silver chain for the pendant and wore it each day after that. You also started to have strange dreams about ancient times and those dreams changed the course of your future; you began to study ancient history, the history of the Greeks to be more specific and you were particularly interested, obsessed even, about the history of Troy and Thassos.
During the last semester of your studies you moved to London, applied for an internship for BBC and managed to get in, which was like a dream come true. The final project of your studies, for now at least, was to make a documentary about this controversial story about an ancient queen called (Y/N), the daughter of King Herakleides and her marriage with Paris, the prince of Troy, who had been said to have caused the war between Troy and Sparta. You however believed that the famous story of Homer was wrong. You knew it was.
- … And here, on the shores of Thassos, we end our journey, at the ruins of an ancient palace, staring at the same view that Queen (Y/N), the daughter of King Herakleides, once stared. you spoke to the camera with a calm voice and took a glance at the horizon that sparkled in the setting sun.
- Did she know that history would forget her? We will never know. However I dare to claim that her spirit still lives on, in every wave, in the wind, calling to her long lost love… Paris of Troy. you continued with a longing smile on your face.
-And… Cut! That’s a wrap, thank you everybody! the director of the documentary said and the camera stopped recording. You recoiled from your thoughts and chuckled a little. This had been a long and somewhat consuming project and it was strange to think that it was now over.
- It was good? you asked curiously as you rubbed your arms a little. It was the end of May but the northern wind was still a little bit cold and made you shiver since you were wearing only a light summer dress.
- Yeah. Now we must just edit it in London... the director replied and added “…and so on” with a casual voice.
- Yeah! Now I’ll get a drink and start my holiday. you laughed and followed the camera crew down to the harbor. “Travel safe, bye-bye!” you said to them as they got into a taxi and drove to the hotel. You had planned to stay on Thassos for a month because now that you had finally finished the documentary, you had officially graduated and it was time to take some time off, besides you couldn’t help feeling that you were meant to be here… the place was calling you, speaking to you and it felt like it was your home.
You walked by sea, strolled along the boulevard in the glow of setting sun and stopped at a bar to enjoy a cold drink before getting dinner. Suddenly your attention was caught by a man on a fancy yacht, sailing to the harbor where you were sipping your drink. “Celebrities” you thought and scoffed into the glass, you did not know who the man was but at least his mighty boat was screaming “I am someone important, look at me” or maybe the guy had a small dick and he needed to boost his ego with a fancy penis-extension. Your witty thought process and sharp mind amused you greatly and made you to chuckle by yourself, seemingly without a reason, which caused whispers among the people sitting by the next table. However your attention kept drawing to the man as he fastened the ropes to the wooden railing of the pier. Suddenly he fell off from the boat and hit his head to the side of his yacht.
At this moment your reflexes kicked in and you abandoned your drink instantly, asked the people to look after you bag and then stormed out from the terrace. You ran to help the stranger, jumped off the pier and pulled the unconscious man back to the surface while the curious bystanders gathered on the pier to see what was going on. You dragged the man to the shore and started to perform CPR which you had learned in school many years ago, fortunately for him. You kept forcing air into his lungs and eventually the man woke up. You helped him to roll on his side to cough the seawater off his lungs. The man looked strangely familiar and then you realized he man was Orlando Bloom, the actor.
The man opened his eyes and looked at you with shocked, yet mesmerized look on his face. You stared back at him while your pendant kept dangling in front of his eyes, glimmering when the light hit it and made the slightly translucent white stones glow in faint blue, just like the palest moon on a clearest sky. You brushed the hair off his face as you kept drowning into his brown eyes… almost like you had been staring into those eyes before… like this… from rather close distance. He coughed again and the sound woke you up from your thoughts.
- Are you alright? you asked and smiled at him with a puzzled expression on your face.
- Yes, quite. Orlando replied and sat up.
- You should take it easy. you commented and brushed your hair behind your ear.
- Yeah, I suppose you’re right. Orlando mumbled and wiped the seawater off from his eyes. “Thank you, by the way” he added with a soft voice. He brushed his hair and jerked a little when he felt a sore bump on his head. He took an immediate glance at his hand as an automated reaction to which you commented
- You hit your head when you fell, but there is no blood.
- Oh. It happened so fast. he commented, still kind of unaware what had happened. You reasoned that Orlando was still in a shock and therefore you decided not to leave him quite yet. “Yeah, I saw you” you stated and explained that you were drinking something at the bar and then ran to his rescue immediately when you saw him falling into the sea.
- You ran to my rescue? he asked with an amused tone.
- Yeah, jumped right in. you chuckled and then added that in your opinion he should go to the hospital. “You could have a concussion” you stated and tried to see if his pupils were reacting to light in a normal way. Orlando shook his head and chuckled a little when you told him to follow your finger as you moved it from side to side. “Are you a doctor?” he asked to which you responded with a headshake and a slightly embarrassed smile.
You knew who Orlando Bloom was, you had seen his movies and you were well aware that he was one of the rising stars in Hollywood, currently about twenty seven or eight years old and therefore it was no surprise that he looked so familiar… However the longer you spend time with him and the more you looked into his eyes… and… paid attention to those brown, curly locks that danced in the light breeze… you couldn’t help having a strangest feeling that you had met him before… no… that you knew him. Somehow.
- I have a feeling that I have seen you before. you stated after a moment of silence.
- You have most likely seen me in a movie. I am Orlando Bloom. he said and offered you his hand for a handshake.
- Yes, I know who you are. you stated and shook his hand rather awkwardly. “I’m (Y/N)” you responded.
- I actually just finished filming movie about the Trojan War. he commented with a smirk.
- Ah, Troy. you commented with a chuckle. “I know the story by Homer” you replied and straightened your soaked summer dress so you would look even a little bit more presentable. You were well aware that your hair was a mess and your makeup had smudged but at least you had saved the man’s life and therefore he did not have the permission to care about your messy appearance!
- I actually finished filming as well. you continued and before Orlando managed to ask anything further you cleared your throat and smiled a little because there was something about the man that made you blush… and it had nothing to do with the fact that he was a movie star.
- BBC –documentary about an ancient princess, (Y/N), who married Paris, the prince of Troy and then became the queen of Thassos. you explained and wiped the mascara off your cheeks. Orlando chuckled a little and said “Wait, what?” You nodded with a smirk and sighed “Yeah” with a barely audible tone. Orlando stared at you with a confused look on his face and then said
- Married… Paris? But Helen of Troy-
- You see, I believe that the story is flawed. you said and interrupted Orlando. You did not mean to be rude and do so but the subject was close to your heart for some reason and the words just seemed to escape your lips without permission. “Paris was the celebrity ladies’ man of his time” you explained and cleared your throat before continuing. “It would be easy to blame him for a war started by adultery” you spoke calmly, yet your voice had an undertone of fascination. It was obvious that you were intimately connected to the story… or just obsessed with it.
- So, this queen (Y/N)… I have never heard of her. Orlando commented and stood up. You stood up as well and gestured him to join you at the bar so you could monitor his state, the potential concussion, longer.
- No, you wouldn’t have. Her rule did not even last long and then they drowned, leaving no heir. you explained as you walked slowly side by side with the handsome actor along the shore.
- How do you know about her, if according to history she doesn’t exist? he asked curiously. You gestured Orlando to sit by your table and ordered him a non-alcoholic drink. Then you opened the lock of your silver chain that was hosting the pendant. “Here” you began and took a deep breath.
- I found this when I was on a holiday here, ten years ago. A pendant of moonstones and silver. you spoke and showed Orlando how the pendant glowed when the light reflected from it in a specific angle.
- I have come to believe that it was given to (Y/N) by Paris on the fifth anniversary of their marriage to remind her of the night that they met each other. you commented. Orlando extended his hand to you and asked “May I?” You gave him the pendant and said “Sure” as the waiter brought a big glass of sparkling water with ice to the table.
- How do you know this? Orlando asked after inspecting the pendant from every angle with a mesmerized look on his face. “I don’t know” you commented and sipped your drink which had gotten very watery because the ice had already melted into the drink making it mild.
- But what I do know is that ever since I found it I’ve had vivid dreams about the ancient world and I have been obsessed with Ancient Greece. you explained.
- Fascinating. I can imagine that you are a history professor. Orlando commented and sipped his drink.
- Not quite, not a professor at least. you chuckled and leaned backwards in your chair. You admired Orlando secretly as he kept spinning the pendant in his hand and admiring the fine craftsmanship. You couldn’t help noticing that his brown, curly locks shone in the sunlight that made his eyes sparkle whenever it hit them. Orlando shifted his gaze from the pendant to you and caught you staring at him to which you reacted by shifting your gaze away immediately and smiling awkwardly. You swallowed once as you formed your thoughts into words and the words into a sentence. After mumbling and stammering you finally managed to get your shit together and continued
- Anyway I got an internship at BBC, moved to London, and as my final thesis I am making a documentary about the subject of Paris of Troy and the queen of Thassos because-
- It captured you. he commented and flashed a very boyishly charming smile. You could feel a strong blush covering your cheeks, which you tried to hide by hiding behind the big glass. “Yes” you commented somewhat nervously.
- I had been studying the subject before, strangely capable of finding evidence and knowing where to look for the details of the unknown story. you described, knowing that it sounded stupid… well, very strange and foolish anyway, almost like you had convinced yourself about it and then accepted every piece of evidence that supported the story and ignored everything that proved your theory wrong… like you had wanted the story to be true so badly that you were ready to basically see what you wanted to see.
- Well, to be honest, when I was in character, portraying Paris, I felt… Orlando commented and paused for a moment. “…conflicted… like the source material-“ he spoke softly. “The story of the Trojan War by Homer” you stated and interrupted him again. “Exactly!” Orlando exclaimed and then continued
- Anyway… I felt like the character of Paris was incorrect. But I reasoned that it was just because he was a coward and I have been only portraying heroes before… Legolas… Will Turner, for example.
- Maybe your feeling was not wrong. you stated casually.
- But how could I know such thing? Orlando said and leaned back in his chair. “Honestly? I do not know” you commented and shook your head. Then you leaned forward and supported yourself to your elbows as you started to explain further. “It is like…” you said and chuckled nervously because you knew that what you were about to say wouldn’t make any sense and you wouldn’t have any concrete proof to back your story up. The only thing that you had was a feeling… like something in the wind… calling you from the distance.
- When I came here to film my documentary, it was like I knew this place. Not as it is now but as it once was. I was able to tell where the palace had been, the harbor… Even the spot where (Y/N) had met Paris. you described with a deeply fascinated tone. You noticed the slightly amused look on Orlando’s face and therefore you stated “You do not believe me. It is alright.”
- However the strangest thing is that… you said and paused to take a deep breath. “…that pendant” you continued and pointed at the pendant that Orlando was holding on his palm.
- …was in a perfect condition, almost like frozen in time, trapped almost entirely inside a rock… when I found it. you stated. “And yes, it is from the Bronze Age” you added.
- Shouldn’t you give it to some museum? Orlando asked and took one long look at it.
- Oh believe me, I tried, but for some reason I couldn’t. you commented with a smirk. “It is precious to me in ways that I cannot even understand” you continued and sighed deeply.
- Well, it is a beautiful pendant. Orlando said and handed it to you. “Here” he said with a smile on his face. “Thanks” you sighed and hung the pendant back where it belonged. You watched Orlando processing everything in his mind as he emptied his drink and after that he checked his watch and cursed with a barely audible tone. “What is it?” you asked as an automated reaction.
- Oh, it is getting late. I think I should probably get going. Orlando said and stood up. “It was a pleasure” he added and offered his hand to you for a final handshake. “Yeah, likewise” you said with a smile, left a random amount of Euro –coins as a payment for Orlando’s drink as a tip for the barkeeper.
You took your bag and turned away as your plan was to walk to your hotel and change your clothes, maybe fix your face as well before getting some dinner. Suddenly you felt your heart aching in an unbearable way as you felt a tsunami of memories rushing in. You turned your hand and focused your gaze on your palm that had small dots, like you had once tripped over and slammed your hand to a pincushion. You had always had that mark in your hand but you had never paid any attention to it because you had just assumed that it was a birthmark of some sort.
Orlando stepped on the wooden pier and suddenly stopped walking. He felt a terrible pain in his chest and all of a sudden his mind started to fill with memories that couldn’t possibly be his… but still they were. He remembered you quite vividly staring at him in the pale moonlight, he remembered kissing you… being worried that you would die… and finally letting go and being taken away by a wave in a raging sea. Orlando gasped for air and turned to look at you as you walked away… he felt slightly dizzy watching you getting further away from him… until you stopped.
- Hey! You must be careful not to step on a sea urchin. It is a black spiky… you shouted as you stopped and turned to look at Orlando. “…sea creature on seafloor. They are poisonous.” you continued.
- … sea creature on seafloor. They are poisonous. Orlando mumbled at the same time, knowing exactly what you were going to say.
- You always say that! he shouted in return with a playful tone.
- And you always need me to save your ass. you shouted back.
Orlando took a couple of shallow breaths and then jogged to you. He stopped right in front of you to stare into your eyes in the same puzzled way you had stared at him earlier when you had dragged him out from the sea. It was odd… the way he felt like he knew you even though he was most certain that he had never met you before… not in this life at least. You kept staring at Orlando’s eyes as you tried to figure out what he was thinking. Suddenly he pressed his hand on your heart and stated “I feel that I know your heart” with a mesmerized tone that had an undertone of relief in it.
- As the moon is eternal, so is my love for you. you mumbled as you felt your eyes getting filled with tears. “It will never fade away” you added and gasped for air as you realized how and why you knew that man standing in front of you. Orlando sighed relieved, chuckled a little as he fought to keep his emotions in check and then spoke softly
- In the next life, or in the one after that.
That had been his promise a very long time ago and now he was going to keep it. You had finally found each other again, in the new world. The world that was filled with exciting possibilities and you both were ready to love once more.