Worth Loving

Chapter 2: To Troy

Hermione sat down in front of the palace's lake, her favourite spot. She always went there when she wanted to get away, to relax. Not surprisingly, she would sit down and spend a minimum of three hours reading. She had read countless books, but right now, her mother's journal rested on her hands. She was dressed in a simple sleeveless pearl-coloured gown, as it was a typical hot day.

"Hermione! Hermione!" the familiar and detestable voice of Fleur, her half sister, stirred Hermione from her thoughts.

"Haven't I told you not to interrupt me when I'm here?" she stood up, shouting.

Dressed in a violet gown, accompanied by a lilac mantel on top of her shoulders, and her silver blonde hair running loosely to her waist, Fleur ran towards her half-sister, a pale pink coloured mantel in hand.

"Quick! Put this on!" Fleur threw the mantel around Hermione's shoulders.

"What for?" As far as Hermione knew, she wasn't going anywhere.

"Just put it on," said Fleur, although it sounded more like a plea.

Hermione sighed, annoyed, but followed her sister's request. And right on time, Menelaus made an entrance, followed by his brother Agamemnon and his brother's wife, Clytemnestra.

"Oh, here she is, Hermione," Menelaus smiled, directing himself towards his daughter.

"Ah yes, Hermia." Agamemnon took a step forward; taking Hermione's hand while Fleur took a step back.

"Hermione," Menelaus's daughter corrected, taking a little bow, as was polite, "Uncle."

To Hermione's displeasure, Agamemnon looked at her up and down before returning to the conversation.

"She looks about ready to ripen, brother," Agamemnon commented. As a result, Hermione stepped out of his reach. She hated his visits.

"Yes, well, I believe I've already discussed that with Molly," Menelaus responded, making Hermione flinch. Wasn't that Achilles' wife?

"And who's that?" Agamemnon pointed at Fleur.

"That's Fleur."

"Ah yes, the Trojan's daughter," Agamemnon sneered.

"Make yourself comfortable brother. Have a drink and grapes on my account," Menelaus invited, before turning to look at Hermione, "Can I have a word?"

"Do I have a choice?" Hermione asked vaguely. Menelaus took her arm after instructing Fleur to go back inside the castle's walls.

"I believe you must have heard the rumours of Troy," he commented.

"Perhaps, but I haven't paid attention to them as they are not my concern," Hermione replied.

"Well, they are now. Troy is giving me a hard time, since I believe the queen really has gone out of her mind."

"And?"

"I have to choose a successor to the throne."

"Maybe you should let the Trojans decide."

"Troy is mine."

"No. It's Agamemnon's and I still believe you should leave it alone. There's been enough blood spilled."

"Stop talking about that."

"It's true. Agamemnon set it in ruinations, for what? Revenge? Mother's dead. What more do you want!" Hermione exclaimed furiously.

"Stop it!"

"Leave it alone! They deserve some peace!"

"That diary's going to make you sick," Menelaus stated in disgust.

"Perhaps. But then again, it's the only thing I cherish from my mother."

"Helen chose it this way."

"No. You made it this way," Hermione whispered.

"Say what you like. Troy is still mine."

"So what? I want nothing to do with it."

"That's unfortunate, because I'm sending you there."

"What?"

"What you heard. You will go to Troy and put things in order. Choose someone worthy of the throne. If not, you'll take it."

"Like hell I will."

"You forget who I am. I am the king and I can still command you."

"Why don't you send Agamemnon?"

"You'll leave at dawn." Menelaus took his leave, leaving Hermione to her thoughts.

She sighed in anger. This day just kept getting better and better.

****

"Can I go?" Fleur sat down at the edge of the bed where Hermione lay staring out the window.

"Go where?" Hermione didn't even look at her, her eyes centred on the moon.

"To Troy?" This time, Hermione did turn her sight towards her blonde sister.

"You don't know what you're asking, Fleur. Troy literally hates us. My mother died there. What came back here wasn't mother. She was never the same after Troy. You want to see that? You know nothing! You know nothing except the safety of the palace because father can't stand the mere sight of you." She sighed, realising what she had just said and looked at Fleur, whose face was lowered, covered in tears, "Why do you want to go?"

"Because I don't want to stay! Please Hermione, don't make me stay. Agamemnon is going to stay, I'm sure of it. And Achilles' wife is bound to come any day. I'll be left in the care of a silly maid and all alone in our room. Please let me go. Don't you want some company? I promise I'll behave."

Hermione took a deep breath. Now that she thought about it, she didn't want to go alone.

She hardly knew her sister and could barely tolerate her, but regardless, Fleur wasn't to blame for her father's and mother's mistakes. And to be left alone in a palace mostly crowded by men was hell.

"All right. You can come."

"I can? Oh thanks 'Mione!" Fleur tried to hug her, but Hermione just gave her a thin smile.

"Pack up. We'll leave at dawn. Now listen Fleur, one toe out of place and I'll make Agamemnon go to Troy and bring you back and I guarantee you won't like that. Are we clear?"

"Crystal. I'll pack up. Dawn it is. I'll leave you then." Fleur stood up.

"Bye bye."

"Sleep well!" Fleur hopped on her own bed.

"Mmhm," Hermione yawned. Her eyes were finally closing.

"'Mione?" Fleur asked in a whisper.

"What now?"

"Is it true you're to marry Achilles' son?"

Hermione fell from her bed in a thud, her tiredness suddenly wiped away.

"What did you say?"

****

"Well, of course, didn't Menelaus tell you?"

"Tell me what, aunt Clytemnestra?" Hermione asked Agamemnon's wife.

"That you're to marry Ronald, son of Achilles. Your father wants a secure legacy," Clytemnestra smiled. She had practically raised Hermione after her mother had died.

"No wonder, since he'll be the first to die," Hermione whispered.

"What was that dear?" Clytemnestra asked, but Hermione was already by her father's throne.

"What are you waiting for?" Menelaus whispered. She was supposed to have left already.

"I though my mother made it very clear on her last note that I would not be engaged to anybody. I would be able to wed freely," Hermione reminded him.

"Helen didn't know anything about politics."

"She still wrote it."

"Ah yes, but since she's not in charge of the Spartan throne, I'll make the decisions."

"I'll not marry the heir of a bloodthirsty bastard!" Hermione shouted.

"Achilles was a fine man."

"He was a murderer!"

"The Trojans asked for it!"

"You won't change, will you?" Hermione put her red mantel over her shoulders, just as Fleur appeared, dressed in a pale blue gown with a mauve coloured mantel over her shoulder.

"Sorry for the tardiness. I'm ready now," she smiled at Hermione.

"And where's she going?" Menelaus stood up.

"She's going with me," Hermione answered him coolly.

"Absolutely not!"

"I don't see the problem. After all, she has always been a bother to you."

"She still isn't..."

"I'm taking her. End of story. Saddle the horses!" Hermione commanded as she exited the palace on the journey that would change her life...forever.