The woman that wars were fought over

Helen looked down on the Greek camp with some hesitant hope. She should be more excited, seeing as it was her being rescued. However despite herself she had grown quite fond of Paris and whether she stayed here or went home, she’d just be married off. At least here she already knew the guy. Besides, being inside a city as it is being overrun also isn’t the safest place to be.

Maybe she would stay here after all. She had heard rumours earlier that the garrison commander was considering a breakout to break the siege. If it went ahead her fate would be decided tomorrow, if it didn’t… Well even in the king’s house the food was starting to run low the last few days.

Across the fields in front of the city, near where their fleet had landed, she can see the Greeks pitching their tents as the sun sets. Next to her, her captor and would be husband walks up. “Looking out at your saviours?” He asks. “You know as well as I do, that I am just the justification. Your city has been a problem for my father for a long time.”

“No worries, we will crush their armies tomorrow and **** them back to Hellas. This city won’t fall anytime soon. And while they will be licking their wounds back in their cities we will finally marry. Our children will be wise and powerful and eventually they will rule all of Greece and Asia minor.”

“Don’t you know, dreams are reserved for bed. That is also where we should be headed. You need to rest. Look the sun has almost set by now.”

While Paris makes his way to bed, Helen stays on the wall, looking down on the Greeks and up at the sky. After the sun has set the moon and the stars rise, illuminating the ground below in a cold blue light. As she stares up she could swear that she sees the stars moving back and forth. Their movement grows faster, soon the whit dots coalesce into lines and letters, moving around before eventually forming the word κάλλος. Then they suddenly disappear as if snuffed out leaving Helen standing in complete darkness.

Just as suddenly her pupils are flooded with light and the ground beneath her feet changes from the firm stone walls to soft sand. She blinks rapidly growing used to the sunlight as a voice hits her ear.

“It’s Helen of Troy, and this is the second time she is kidnapped for her beauty, so she should be used to it.” An old man introduces her.

The woman who appears in front of Chris has dark tan skin and intelligent green eyes. Her light brown hair falls evenly down just past her shoulders. She takes a few steps closer, her figure a perfect hourglass.

“So, I am here to marry someone? I assume it is the Greek? To make peace?”, she asks

“No, for once you are wrong. You are here on Harem Hotel to compete with five other contestants to earn your position in the masters Harem. And the Master is Chris, the man in the Chair. Patroklos is another contestant just like you?”

“The Barbarian?” Helen raises and eyebrow. Though Chris is aware of the racism going through greek society at the time, the insult still stung. To his surprise it is Patroklos himself, who speaks up.

“Yes, the Barbarian. Be Careful though. Whoever he is, his accomplice managed to subdue Athena.”

“Hey, I am not his accomplice I was kidnapped just like you” Chris intervenes. Helen looks him in the eyes. “Sure, Let’s assume what you say is true. How are we supposed to trust you. This seems like a pretty good deal for you. You get godly help, a de facto alliance to the King of Mycenea and a Harem. So don’t be surprised when we don’t believe in your innocence.”

“Hey that’s unfair. I don’t think Athena will be all too eager to help me and where I’m from an alliance with Mycenea would be….” Chris finds his words cut off as he tries to explain his situation.

“No spoilers, any major reveals are to be kept for the actual show not the preamble. I have seen so many Hosts waste half of the Drama in the introductions”, Homer interrupts, “And though I doubt it will calm you down, I can assure you, that Chris had no real influence over your fate.” With that he turns back to the Arena, seemingly clearing a larger spot

Helen sits down next to Patroklos and far away from the angry goddess of wisdom. “So do we trust him?” she asks him

“Whom?” ----- “Either one of the two.”

“We definitely don’t trust the crazy old man. I’d say we keep an eye on Chris, but the master isn’t the one actually in charge it seems. He is either properly scared of Athena or he is really good at acting that way.”

“And what interest does the old man have in all of this? What does he get out of this entire arrangement?”

At that point Chris interrupts the conversation between the two. “From what he has told me, he wants to put on a show, some kind of big play. And I am fortunate or unfortunate enough to be the main character, or at least that is what he told me. Though I suspect we are all just characters to him.”

Helen looks up and locks eyes with him. “Again this seems awfully convenient for you. A bunch of people are kidnapped for this play, and even though you are just like us you are the main character who gets the Harem. From this Harem you don’t intend to gain anything politically and really this is all just trouble for you. The more you talk the less sense your story makes. The only reason I’m still even considering to trust you is because that old man apparently silenced you.”

Before she can continue even further Patroklos grabs her shoulder and pulls her away so Chris can’t hear what is whispered.

“Everything you say makes sense, but if you are right, then maybe it’s best not to anger him. And if you are wrong you are just pushing a potential ally away.”

Then he releases the woman’s shoulder who rubs it for a few seconds before settling down next to him.

Athena eyes the duo with suspicion, while Chris tries to ignore the fact that none of the people in his harem seem to want to be there. And for some reason, he doesn’t think it will get better anytime soon.

Homer, finished with his preperations, begins launching into his next Introduction: "And for our next contestant, who better suited for a game like this than her, Introducing...."