Chapter ZERO

               If I were to change one part of the Iliad, I would choose the chapter where Menelaus and Alexandros fought for the prize of Helen, wealth, and peace between the two countries. The chapter narrated how the two princes fought; risking their own lives, just to end the war. It also narrated how Aphrodite intervened with the fight, leaving the battle unfinished and hanging. I would change that part and here is how my story would go:

              The crowd was sitting on the ground, both Trojans and Achaians, watching both fighters, Alexandros and Menelaus, fight for their own country’s sake. There was a silent era among them. All eyes were on the two, nothing else caught their attention.

  Helen stood on the great gates of Troy seeing everything that was happening. Fear was trapped deep within her heart, with both fighters’ fate unknown. She felt great guilt inside, after seeing what she has brought upon her country. Her love for Paris has launched a war, with innocent lives dying all because of her. A stream of tears came rushing in. She held her hands on her chest, the right above the left. She looked up in the heavens, leaving it all up to the gods. A strong wind blew against her golden streaks of hair and her golden dress.

              Alexandros, wearing his bronze armor, rushed forward, holding his ten-inch dagger, at Menelaus. He threw punches at him, two to three shots. The first two, Menelaus had evaded, but the third hit him hard on his cheek bones, pushing him back on the ground. He reached for his dagger. Alexandros once again charged at him, this time with his dagger. Menelaus rolled and kicked him on his feet. Alexandros fell on the ground. The two got up back on their feet. Both fighters became enraged as their eyebrows curled. Alexandros again charged at Menelaus. Menelaus slid sidewards, elbowed Alexandros and sliced the poor prince’s face. Alexandros ran around him and held his left arm around Menelaus’s neck and his dagger pointed at his neck.

             “Aren’t you ashamed?” Alexandros whispered.

             Menelaus gave Alexandros’s feet a heavy stomp and he bent he smashed his head at the other’s face. Alexadros’s grip was loosened. Menelaus turned around and stabbed him at the stomach, right above the bellybutton. Blood came flowing out, and Alexandros stepped back away from him.

             Knowing that the opponent was weak, Agamemnon reached for the spear of his fellow warriors and threw it at Menelaus. He knew this is the time to end it, Alexandros’s life and the war.

             Menelaus caught the spear. He raised his arm and threw the spear at Alexandros. But as he was about to throw the spear, the place became filled with mist, grey smoke where no one could ever see what lied beyond it. Aphrodite couldn’t let this happen, not this early.

              Helen knew at this moment that the gods were once again intervening. There was nothing she could do except to watch what the gods have planned for them. She just wanted this war to come to an end.

              Menelaos threw the spear and it missed. Athena saw this. She darted from Olympos to the battlefield like a comet. She shined like the sun as she was descending down. She raised her arms, forcing strong winds to blow, pushing the mist away. Aphrodite ran towards Alexandros, but Athenaia Brighteyes didn’t let this happen. She charged towards her sister and grabbed both her arms.
              “What are you doing sis?” Athena asked her while she was dragging her away towards the walls of Troy.
               She pushed her against the wall and said “You know that Troy is destined to lose dear sis”.

               Zeus, upon seeing this event, stood up in great anger. His plan was all ruined. He was about to descend but Hera held her smooth hands upon his face. He faced him to her and she kissed him tenderly.

              The battle continued. Alexandros picked the spear up and threw it at Menelaus. It was a sure hit. It hit Menelaus on his biceps and it went through it. Menelaus took it off and charged towards Alexandros. He gave him a big stab at the same right spot where he hit him, above the bellybutton. Alexandros couldn’t evade, as his vision became a big blur. His vision now turned to black and his soul went straight to Hades.

              Helen saw all of this, and her heart was overwhelmed by pain. It was as if that she felt all of Paris’s pain. She fell on her knees and cried, mourning like a little child. Her love was gone. She then wiped all of her tears and stood up. She realized that it was not worth crying for because the war was now over. It was all she ever wanted, and it has been granted.

              Back in Achilles home, Thetis entered and knelt down in front of her son.

              “I’m dearly sorry my son for I have failed you. Troy lost its wealth, and Achaia has reined victory.” Thetis said as she slid her palm on his son's face.

              Upon hearing these words, Achilles raged up and threw all of his stuff on the ground.

             Arriving in Sparta, the soldiers marched along with Helen, Menelaus and Agamemnon. As they marched, some people were crying hearing upon the deaths of their loved ones, and some were shouting at Helen.

            “It’s because of you!” they shouted.

             Helen couldn’t help not to ignore those words. It went through her heart, but she held her composure. As the two, Helen and Menelaus, got inside their room, Menelaus locked the door.

            “They’re right; it was all because of you that this war had happened. It was all because of you that people’s lives were taken away from them. Because you betrayed me,” he said as he went closer.

            Helen stepped backwards. She saw the grin on his face, and the dagger he was hiding behind him. She took off his robe. Seeing the beauty of Helen’s body, he dropped the dagger. Helen’s beauty took control and the two kissed.

              That is how my story goes. The war was cut short, giving Achaia the victory and the wealth of Troy.