"Indeed it has, my lord." She spoke quietly and blamed Agamemnon not only for violating a priestess who served Apollo, but also for retaliating against Achilles when he had urged him to do what was right. "He wants Briseis returned to him, of course, but more importantly, Agamemnon should show him the respect and honor he deserves as their finest warrior."
Zeus pulled his beard thoughtfully. "I'm growing weary of this war. Aphrodite and Apollo favor the men of Troy, while Hera and Athena are on the Greeks' side. I would prefer to remain neutral, although I've always loved the fair city of Troy, but I'm as angry as you are by the shameful way Achilles has been treated. Return home, and trust me to find a solution. Please don't wait until you have another perplexing problem to visit me, my lovely Thetis. I'll always be happy to see you here on Mount Olympus."
She kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Father Zeus. I knew you would help us." She dove through the clouds for the sea and entered the water in a clean slice without making a bit of a splash. Her Nerieds joined her, and they swam together to her palace in the ocean's depths.
Hera stepped out from the shadows, thoroughly displeased. "Thetis has come yet again asking for favors you're all too willing to grant. You always give in to a pretty face."
Zeus stood to pull his petulant wife into his arms. He smiled and said, "She is a pretty nymph, but you are a glorious beauty, my wife, and simply without peer."
Mollified for the moment, the goddess rested her head on his shoulder. "I overheard enough to learn Thetis expects you to help Achilles. I like the boy, he's both handsome and fearless."
"I like him too. Give me time to think, and I'll devise something clever."
She kissed his cheek before turning away. "You'll need to force Agamemnon to admit how much he needs Achilles and his warriors. It shouldn't be too difficult to prompt his thoughts in that direction."
"I hope not." Zeus returned to the marble bench and picked up his lyre. Perhaps he'd speak to Agamemnon in a dream. He turned the thought over in his mind, and considered it from every angle, until at last, it became perfection. If Agamemnon thought Troy would fall, he would send all his warriors into the battle, but at Zeus's bidding, the Trojan forces would overwhelm them. The costly battle would force Agamemnon to admit how greatly he needed Achilles, and Thetis and her son would be pleased. He laughed at his clever stratagem, and his exuberance resounded in violent thunder claps that made the Olympians shake.
* * *
Agamemnon awoke from a dream of battle so intense it had seemed real. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Filled with an excited rush, he rose from his corded bed and had his heralds summon all the kings he had faced last night. They murmured their concern over the assembly, but Agamemnon quieted them with a broad sweeping gesture.
"I swear Zeus has spoken to me in a dream. He says we must attack today and Troy will surely fall. Go and make sacrifices to the gods, and we will surely triumph. Go, hurry! This is the day we will finally vanquish Troy!
"
Ajax leaned down to whisper to Menelaus, "No more men have fallen ill in my camp. What about yours?"
"They are all well, as are all the other warriors assembled on the plain. Achilles was right to demand Agamemnon return Chryseis, but I did not hear Agamemnon praise his name."
"No, he appears to have forgotten the plague that cursed us with so many losses. We'll fight today, but Achilles will be sorely missed."
Menelaus nodded and went to gather his Spartan armor and weapons. He wanted the war over more than any other man present. Too anxious to eat, he tasted victory in every swallow of wine. His warriors felt his renewed sense of valor and vigor and followed him with glad shouts and up-thrusting spears.
* * *
As the Trojans prepared to battle, word spread that Achilles and his men had withdrawn from the Greek's forces and remained in their camp. They took heart, for without Achilles, the Greeks would be easily beaten, and sure of victory, Paris swung his sword in the air, eager to best them and send them home bloody with their losses. He swaggered into the battle ranks wearing his leopard skin cloak, and caught up in the thrill, he rushed ahead of the Trojan front line and shouted a challenge for a Greek champion to face him.
"All you Greeks, hear me. I'm Prince Paris of Troy. Send your bravest warrior, and we'll settle this war with a single combat. The winner shall have Helen and great treasures from the losing side."
Eager to accept, Menelaus leaped from his chariot and ran forward from the Greek ranks. "I'll fight you, Trojan," he yelled. "I'll cut down your shameless, thieving body and leave it for dogs to feast on! I swear it by Ares, the god of War."
Caught up in high spirits of the moment, Paris had offered his bold challenge without considering whom he might have to fight. Menelaus was clad in gleaming bronze armor, and his helmet was adorned with a white plume, but he was easily recognizable by his red beard. Paris saw the fierce hatred in the man's gaze as he rushed forward, as eager as a lion on the hunt. Paris took a backwards step and then another, his knees threatening to buckle, but Hektor moved to block his way.
"You coward," Hektor whispered. "You had the courage to steal his wife, but now you cringe and can't face him man-to-man? Aphrodite may have made you handsome, but of what use are fine looks to you now? You must fight him or be the laughing stock of all Troy."
His brother's bitter insults stung, and Paris gripped the ivory handle of his bronze sword more tightly. His first thought was of Helen and how greatly he wished to make her proud of him. "I'm grateful for whatever blessing Aphrodite my have bestowed upon me, and I won't fault her for my lack of courage. Have all the Trojan and Greek warriors stand back and form an open circle for the duel. Menelaus and I will fight for Helen and her wealth. But first, we must all agree that whichever man wins, it will be an end to this long war, and there will be a sworn truce thereafter."
Hektor slapped his younger brother on the back. "Muster whatever strength you possess and stand tall. Troy's honor is at stake here." He stepped out in the opening between the armies and waved his spear with the royal pennant attached to catch the Greek leader's attention.
Seeing Hektor striding toward him, Agamemnon called to his archers to quiver their arrows. "Let the man speak," he shouted.
Hektor possessed a booming voice that carried well, "This challenge between Paris and Menelaus should decide this war. Whoever wins the duel takes Helen and will also take all her wealth. The rest of us will abide by a sworn pact of holy friendship and peace between our kingdoms."
Hektor's startling announcement was greeted with a hushed silence until Menelaus answered, his voice equally loud, "My quarrel with Paris has caused the deaths of too many brave men. I'll agree to fight him to the death, while the rest of us live in peace. Priam must seal this truce in blood. While we gather lambs to sacrifice, he must come down from his citadel to stand here on the plain with his son."
"We agree," Hektor shouted, and he sent two heralds to summon King Priam, and fetch the lambs. Agamemnon also sent a messenger to his ships for another lamb.
* * *