HELEN: The Wine Dark Sea

"I'm sure it isn't, but I'll not allow the decision to haunt me forever. You three must go with Hermes and don't return until the matter is decided among you."

* * *

Paris drove his herd to the highest of Mount Ida's peaks, Mount Gargarus, where the deep green grass grew thick. He played a lively tune on his panpipe until his herd of cattle suddenly grew skittish. He stood and quickly searched the hillside for a predator, a lion perhaps, but the countryside stretched out in peaceful calm. A sudden jolting crack of thunder made him flinch, and he gazed overhead filled with both fear and wonder.

Hermes parted the billowing pink-tinged clouds, and the radiant messenger of the gods flew down on his winged sandals. He carried the glowing golden apple and his Caduceus, a golden wand with two writhing serpents entwined on its staff. Behind Hermes, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite floated down to the earth. Awestruck, Paris stared at the magnificent beings and fell to his knees.

Hermes took Paris's arm and raised him to his feet. "You're a strapping lad, handsome as well, and you needn't cower before us. We've come to have you decide a matter, and you must consider your answer carefully before you give it."

Paris nodded awkwardly, and stuttered, "I'll do so."

"What an agreeable lad," Hermes enthused. He gestured toward his lovely companions. "Zeus commands you to judge one of these goddesses as the fairest, the most beautiful, the most divine."

The goddesses glowed with the same sparkling shimmer as Hermes, and Paris shaded his eyes with his hand to see them more clearly. "I know cattle and little else, to me you are all very fair, all beautiful, all divine. May I split the apple into three equal parts? Then each will be fairly acknowledged."

Hermes shook his head regretfully. "You have no choice, mortal, and can't deny the will of the gods. You must select one goddess and give her the golden prize."

Paris glanced around him desperate for help, but only his cattle were near and they were unmindful of his dismay. "So be it, but I beg those I don't choose not to punish me."

Hera took a step forward. Her hair was the deep brown of rich earth and curled atop her head to accent her vivid blue eyes. She was the tallest of the goddesses, and bathed in the fresh scent of falling rain. "You needn't fear us. Zeus will accept your choice and so will we."

Athena's raven black hair was adorned with golden combs, and a haunting touch of lavender perfumed the air around her. Her luminous gray eyes were framed with thick black lashes. Her smile offered warm encouragement. "You needn't be afraid. Just give us your best, Paris."

A wreath of red roses crowned Aphrodite's golden blonde curls, and the flowers' lush perfume danced on the air around her. Her sparkling eyes were more gold than green. She dipped her head and gazed at him through long fluttering lashes. "You're so handsome, Paris. Let your heart guide your decision."

Dazzled by each one, their gorgeous gowns and sweet perfumes, Paris shrugged helplessly. "Perhaps I could see you more clearly if you were to disrobe."

Amused, Hermes slapped him on the back. "It's clear you're a deep thinker. Do any of you object, my lovelies?" he asked the goddesses.

Hera unfastened her golden belt, and her delicate ivory hued gown pooled around her feet. She turned slowly and glanced over her shoulder. "I'm Hera, queen of the gods. Examine me closely and you'll find no flaw. Choose me, and you'll rule Asia and be the richest man alive."

Paris swallowed hard. "You're offering me such a grand bribe?"

"Not a bribe," Hera laughed, "but

a generous reward."

Athena whirled around him in a dizzying spin before discarding her colorful multi-hued gown. "I'm Athena, goddess of Wisdom and Defensive War. Choose me, and I'll make you the wisest man who ever lived, and you'll always be victorious in war."

Her figure was as perfect as Hera's with high, full breasts, a narrow waist and gently rounded hips. Their legs were long and their feet tiny, and he feared he'd never be able to choose.

Aphrodite came so close her pale pink gown brushed his arm as she released the gold and silver braided belt, and the sheer fabric floated to the ground. She spoke in a tantalizing, honey-smooth whisper, "I'm Aphrodite, your goddess of Love, and who could be more beautiful? Look at me." She raised her arm to coil her golden hair above her head and let it cascade into a shimmering cape over her shoulders. Her lush figure was as exquisite as Hera and Athena's.

"Choose me," she invited in a seductive hush. "I'll reward you with the world's most beautiful woman as your very own."

An innocent rustic lad, Paris fell instantly in her thrall and spoke without hesitation, "You should have this!" He grabbed the golden apple from Hermes and placed it in Aphrodite's outstretched hands. "Now, goddess, where is my prize?"

Aphrodite responded with a deep throaty giggle. She scooped her gown from the grass and disappeared in a golden mist.

Hera and Athena donned their gowns before circling Paris with resentful gazes, and the depth of their jealousy thickened the air. Hera's voice was a deep snarl, "Your choice will bathe you..."

"And your city," Athena added.

"In blood and fire!" The two goddesses pointed at him, their gesture evil in its intent. "Trojan fool!" They turned away and dissolved in a sparkling mist plotting the destruction of Troy.

Paris couldn't believe his eyes. He turned to Hermes, confused and filled with dread. Hermes dropped an arm around Paris's shoulders and gave him a brotherly hug. "It's always dangerous to insult a goddess, although Hera and Athena were convincing in their insistence you'd not offend them. You have won a prize from Aphrodite, however, and should go to Troy to claim it."

"How?" Paris asked, so frightened he could barely form the question, but Hermes had already vanished as the goddesses had, and his lowing cattle were again his only companions. Stunned by the whole astonishing encounter, he sat with a thud and cradled his head in his hands. He'd met three goddesses, each more beautiful than the next, but who would believe him if he told such an outlandish tale?