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It's already been a year since Helen was carried off to Troy, and it seemed like she found another interest in someone instead of Paris— but still, it someone who was royal and related to the young man and it was no other than his sister; Princess Cassandra, the one with the gift of prophecy but was cursed to be never believed. she was often made fun of and tormented by the people of troy, regardless of her title.
But of course, that didn't stop Helen from falling in love with her.
Helen and Cassandra ran with their hands linked together, giggling softly as they weaved through a large patch of grass filled with wild flowers; Peonies, Dandelions, Violets, You name it. it was a bright sunny day with the atmosphere filled with laughter and joy, the air had the scent of jasmines lingering, Helen held Cassandra's hand tighter while leading her to a secluded grove; far from wandering travelers and the village— they both laid down under the shade of a chestnut tree, their hands still intertwined.
Cassandra broke the silence first, turning to look at Helen "It's a pretty day, isn't it?"
Helen nodded, letting out a quiet chuckle "You're more beautiful Cassy." Cassandra quickly let out a laughter, placing her free hand over her mouth as she continued— Helen finally turned her head to gaze at Cassandra with a slight grin "What's so funny? I mean what I said, Darling."
Cassandra paused before speaking with a beaming smile "It's just that— y'know..I don't get compliments a lot."
"Then you better get used to it, Babe." Helen winked
Cassandra let out a sigh, her cheeks were toned with a soft pinkish color as she spun to lay on her stomach, shifting to toy with Helen's hand "You're such a tease, are you always like this to everyone?"
"Of course not, all my flattering words are reserved for my sweet."
"Yeah right, prove it."
Helen let out another sigh, looking at Cassandra's face "And how will I prove that?"
"Dunno." Cassandra huffs, her lower lip slightly pushed out;she would start sulking if Helen wouldn't do anything to prove that she's actually special.
Helen then turned to lay on her belly, staring at Cassandra's face "Look at me."
Cassandra let's out another petulant huff, looking away till Helen reached out to grab both sides of her cheek with her index and thumb forcing her lover to look at her before leaning in and kissing her; a few seconds in, Helen swiped her tongue over Cassandra's lips patiently asking for entry— but with that, Cassandra pulled away with a dark redden face.
"I..I'm not doing that—!"
"And why's that..?" Helen let out a quiet heavy breath, still surprised that her lover would pull away during a beginning of an intimate moment.
"I..I don't know how..//" Cassandra's face beamed brighter as Helen let out a chuckle at what she mumbled.
"I'll teach you, we'll go slow, promise."
"Fine..//"
Helen held Cassandra's hands, running her finger over her knuckles as she calmed down before slowly continuing where they left off — a few minutes after Cassandra slowly got the hang of it, Helen placed her hands on her cheek as she slowly dove in; The birds chirping around them slowly faded as Helen focused on the warmth and taste of her lover's mouth. She continued deepening the kiss till Cassandra's lungs couldn't keep up, She slowly pulled away; a string of saliva connecting them as Cassandra panted heavily.
"Are you okay?" Helen tilted her head, her thumb slowly rubbing Cassandra's cheek as she hummed and nodded, She smiled slowly at her lover's response, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss on her forehead.
After a few minutes after the kiss, they took a break; because someone was too overwhelmed to even process anything Helen said, they shifted back to their previous position and chattered about the village and the latest tea and also some soft affectionate whispers meant for each other.
"Do you think I could get you a pomegranate from that tree?" Helen suddenly cuts in, Cassandra follows her gaze towards a large pomegranate filled tree a bit far from where they were sitting.
"I guess, but you better come back."
Helen smiled smugly "Of course, it's not like someone would take me."
"Helen."
"Alright! alright! nobody's taking me, I promise." She grinned
Cassandra mumbled something about Helen being too careless with her safety as Helen slowly got up and walked towards the tree, shifting around tall grass that reached her waist as she continued making her way near it.
a few minutes later, she managed to grab three of them before turning to look back at where Cassandra was sitting— Cassy..? She realized her lover was nowhere to be seen near the large Chestnut tree, she bolted through the grass till she was a few feet near it, she briskly rotated her head left and right before calling out her name "Cassandra..!?" and suddenly Cassandra whistled behind her; She was just hanging upside down on the Tree's branch all along.
"Yes, Babe~?"
Helen jumped with her eyes widened before letting an exasperated huff, slightly irritated "Don't scare me like that."
Cassandra let out a joyous laugh, grinning widely before getting on the ground and hugging Helen "Sorry, Love..// didn't mean to scare you" she pressed her lips on her cheek and left a kiss.
Every Irritated part of Helen dissolved when Cassandra gave her a kiss, she pressed her lips on her lovers cheek to return the favor "Alright, c'mon let's eat."
a few minutes later, their tunics were somewhat stained with an intense red and purple pigments as they laughed happily once more, they laid with their bodies turned to face each other while their hands slowly reaching out for one another to hold.
"You still haven't proved to me that I'm special to you," Cassandra let out a quiet grumble
"Yes I did,"
"Nope, it was just a kiss."
"Yes, a claiming kiss that I never done before with anyone else."
Cassandra pouted her face bloomed with a light pink color, Helen held her by the waist and brought her in closer before pressing a kiss on her forehead.
"We should do this again," Helen whispered, staring closely at Cassandra's pouty lips, too in love to care about anything else.
"Mhm.. okay," Cassandra replied, letting out a reluctant giggle and smiling again
What went all wrong?
It's been months after their warm moment; what went all wrong? Parts of troy were broken down and burned into ashes, some still up blazing as the screams of young maidens and warriors echoed within the island, It was midnight when they started the ambush; of course the wooden horse was a trick; why would the Greeks who swore to protect her 'abandon' her so damn quickly? She ran barefoot, through countless of panicked locals, Helen ran— not for her own safety, not to run back to Menelaus' arms, she didn't bother no more to return after finding true happiness in another girl's arms, she wouldn't dare return; she was desperately searching her lover; Cassandra. Her eyes were dreaded with fear, tears daring to form as she searched in distress.
She weaved through the battlefield, checking every inch of the palace and the homes of the village; her heart continuing beating rapidly as she panted heavily with something heavy in her chest, Where was she? Where did she go? Helen then entered a tower filled with maidens and mothers and scared children; Their mothers , her eyes scanning every part of the room
"Lady Helen—" A mother called out in the group as they all quieted down
"Where is she? where is Cassandra?" Her hands shook, her chest filled with fear and guilt.
"S—She went out, after bringing us here.."
When the old lady spoke about Cassandra's whereabouts, she fled quickly out of the tower; Her lover? running around the battlefields? looking for her? foolish girl— She thought, but she was doing the same thing- but that wasn't what she was worried for now; she didn't care if she grazed her knee, she didn't mind if she got pierced by a spear— she just wanted to see her girl, her lover, her wife safe and alive.
She then had an idea, she entered the palace and went up to the loggia, she overlooked what once was a clean plaza; now covered in blood and lifeless warriors and children, she saw multiple maidens and mothers captivated in chains and dragged into boats— while some toyed with the Greek soldiers in the far corner of homes; disgusting. She observed the the war between the Greeks, she saw those who fought for her hand in marriage participate to save her. Like she would ever return.
She enjoyed her stay, enjoyed the company of a dark brown, curly-headed woman, why would she ever dare return to her tiresome, common life? she refuse on living with Menelaus as his trophy wife.
She let out a heavy breath; which she didn't know she was holding back until now, she took a glance again on the arena, she still had hope, her lover is alive and still somewhere out there— "Cassandra-!" she called out, her eyes gleamed as all the worries swept away; She was alive! wearing a cloak! Cassandra lifted her head, it looks like she herself seemed relief by the same thing
"I'll go there-! Just wait!" Cassandra yelled back, running inside the palace; Helen smiled happily and sat in the corner of the large palace balcony, she couldn't help ut let out another sigh of relief and smile, thanking the gods above for their protection, she pressed her legs against her chest resting her head on the wall while she waited patiently — for a few minutes, she was able to relax then suddenly—
a loud shuddering cry of pain throbbed through the halls.
Fuck.
no, no, NO-! it can't be— she's still there right; it sounded so close..It must be someone else right..? please- please.. PLEASE. it must be someone else hiding downstairs. Dread-filled thoughts rushed in like lighting through grayish clouds, or like a sudden large wave crushing a boat deep in the middle of the ocean— her hands shook as fear rang through all parts of her body, she shivered on the stone floor, panting heavily as she tried to get her hopes back up that it was just another girl, but the voice was awfully too familiar; she then heard two male voices.
"Isn't that the sister of the one who stole Helen?"
"Looks like it, let's go check the left tower and report back that the palace is clean."
All of Helen's hope disappeared, The woman who let out a gut wrenching scream filled with despair was actually her love; the one who truly loved her for who she was and not for her beauty was dead. died before they could even reach each other, gone before they could tell each other one last endearment. she peeked her head out as the soldiers walked away — blood was sweeping out of Cassandra, freshly staining the floor—
Helen's whole entire world collapsed.
The halls where they spent their days laughing and weaving flower crowns now cold.
What she prayed and begged wouldn't happened came.
Her love.
The one who she truly loved.
now lied on the stone floors with blood pouring out.
Helen frantically crawled beside Cassandra, pulling her body onto her lap; blood gushed out of her abdomen as her breathing slowed down "Cassandra— please, please, please.. gods— no- I.." Tears began forming and dripping down onto her lover's face as she caressed her cheek, she let out a heavy choked sob while cradling her lover, holding her tightly as tears streamed down her face "Cassy— you can't leave me like this— Cassandra..please— I NEED YOU. PLEASE." She shook her lover's body, calling her name over and over again like it would turn her back alive, she ripped the hem of her tunic and pressed it against her stomach.
But of course, it was no use.
Cassandra lifted the edge of her lips slightly, before her breathing stopped.
That was it.
Cassandra was truly gone, and no help could save her.
Helen couldn't accept it.
The charming and wise Helen couldn't let go, she continued shaking the poor, deceased body before letting out an aching cry of guilt and sorrow. "no..no..NO!" she continued, her eyes blurred with tears; steps echoed nearby but she couldn't care, not when her lover just passed away in her arms. She continued wailing loudly— memories of holding each other in the past rushed in,every promise she made to protect and love her felt like a mockery; She didn't rush in when Cassandra screamed— just sat in the corner with fear and denial.
Then abruptly a polearm with a sharpened tip made out of stone punctured the back of Helen's neck; The Greek warriors returned— a loud gasp escaped Helen as the young men realized who the woman was. They quickly panicked before scrambling away, far from the two women like they had no fault— Helen panted heavily, breathing was now hard and painful; she involuntarily laid down beside Cassandra, it was obvious that she aswell, will die. With whatever little energy she had left, her hand quietly reached out to hold her lover's as she attempted to lay closer beside her body.
She turned her head to face Cassandra, pressing their foreheads together as she began recalling their last bonding side by side at the hidden grove they found before slowly drifting to eternal rest.
' "I love you," Helen whispered, staring closely at Cassandra's lips, completely captivated and taking every single detail of her face into her memory.
"Love you more," Cassandra replied, letting out a giggle and smiling before pressing her lips against Helen. '
What used to be two women lively enjoying each other in the halls, now lay side by side in the cold stone land.