Week 3 Story: Hector and Achilles

Hello again!

I hope you enjoy reading my story as much as I did writing it!

Hector and Achilles

A long time ago, the most powerful military force in the world was Greece. 

While you may not believe it, it is the truth. Greece was led by a powerful king with an insatiable thirst for victory over all. His name was Agamemnon. 

King Agamemnon

Link

Agamemnon was ruthless. He believed that he was destined by the gods to conquer all who did not submit to his rule. And he did just that. Dozens of nations fell to his armies. And at the head of those armies, was Achilles. 

Achilles was the fiercest warrior that ever lived. No arrow, nor blade could pierce his skin. It was said his mother dipped him in the River Styx by his heel, and his skin became like steel save for that one spot.

Achilles, while ruthless on the battlefield, was very noble. He cared for his men and killed only because his king demanded it of him. He wished death upon no man. You could say that Agamemnon was death, and Achilles his scythe. 

                                               

Death

Link

Agamemnon and his armies sailed for Troy, and there waiting for him was a man, matched only in fighting skill by Achilles himself. His name was Hector, son of King Priam. 

For years, Agamemnon had left the city of Troy to itself for Troy had the highest and thickest walls of any nation he invaded. He had tried and failed many times to take Troy, and he was determined that no army could take it. 

But you see, something has changed. 

Agamemnon has a brother named Menelaus, a king in his own right. And Menelaus has a beautiful bride named Helen. Her lineage could be traced back to Aphrodite herself. Many had come just to gaze upon her, and had proclaimed her the most beautiful woman in all of Greece. 

But Helen left Menelaus for a man named Paris. The brother of Hector. Prince of Troy. 

Menelaus was enraged and Agamemnon sail for the city of Troy immediately. And so they did. 

And they arrived on the shores of the island where Troy was located. 300 ships, each with 100 men were ready to storm the gates of Troy. 

But Achilles urged Agamemnon to seek a diplomatic end to this folly. 

"Please, my king" urged Achilles "Do not do something foolish that could be settled with mere words. Let me speak to King Priam. I am sure I could convince him to settle this peacefully." 

"Priam and his precious Trojans will find no have no peace from me. Go then, Achilles, and see if you can convince Priam to give Helen back." 

Agamemnon was now standing not inches from Achilles. 

"But if you cannot... I will burn the entire city of Troy to the ground and ensure that no Trojan ever walks this earth again." 

So Achilles dawned his armor, sword and shield rode to the gates. He called out to Priam to meet him outside the gates so they could speak peacefully. 

But it was not King Priam who came out to speak with Achilles. No. It was Hector, Prince of Troy. 

"Why have you come Achilles?" Hector asked

"You know me, warrior of Troy?" 

"There is only one man foolish enough, or brave enough, of that I am unsure, to approach the great walls of Troy alone. I am Hector, son of King Priam and Prince of Troy. Now, why have you come?"

Achilles was relieved. He knew that Hector was a noble man, and would listen to what he had to say. 

Achilles pleased with Hector to give Helen back to Menelaus.

"It's the only way this will end peacefully. I do not wish to die outside the gates of Troy, nor do I wish harm to you and King Priam. Give her back. Let us go home." 

"I'm sorry, Achilles. It is done. Helen is a Trojan now, and part of the family. I refuse to give her back to your children kings. You have a righteous heart, but if you attempt to invade the walls of Troy, I will not hesitate to kill every man in the Greek army." 

Achilles did not want bloodshed on either side, for he knew his king was acting out of jealousy and immaturity. 

Hector also did not want bloodshed, but he had to protect his family and his brother and remain loyal to the people of Troy. 

Both men of noble heart, with good intentions, a desire to withhold from any bloodshed. 

But it would not be so. Agamemnon invaded Troy. He broke through the gates, and destroyed every home and slew every Trojan. 

Hector met Achilles on the battlefield, and after a fierce battle, Achilles cut him down. 

And he wept, for he knew that he had given death to a man that did not deserve to die. 

Hector and Achilles

Link

Achilles vowed that this was the last time he would kill for a tyrant. He sailed home with his men, and lived a life of peace.

Menelaus found Paris hiding in the palace. Paris died with one swift swing of Menelaus's war hammer. 

Helen knew death was better than a life of bondage. In the chaos of the battle, she took a dagger and thrust it into her belly. 

Not her heart, for that had died with Paris. 

King Agamemnon, King Menelaus and their men never made it back to Greece. 

Poseidon had become so enraged at the way Agamemnon had treated the people of Troy, he sank every ship on it's return journey. 

You see, there are no winners in war. 

The end. 

Author's Notes: 

Thank you for reading my story! I wanted to focus on Hector and Achilles and how both men had good intentions but were just on the wrong side of history. So I took the plot of The Illiad and made a couple of changes in the plot. The characters are the same but events happen just a little different from the way Homer tells it. I hope I did him justice. 

Bibliography: 

The Illiad by Homer, Link