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[Cressida]

Cressida slowly walked into the gardens not caring if she walked with grace or not. She had been in the marketplace , but with all the soldiers passing by every few moments disturbed her and then thinking there might be Greek spies around every corner frightened her. It was probably just foolish musings, but she had wanted to forget the war and that was why she had left her house instead of hiding.

However, she had now wandered here. The serenity and beauty of the city gardens and fountains calmed her. They weren’t as lavish or decorative as the palace , but they had their own charm and for a common girl like her they were just fine.

She took a seat on the rim of the fountain and looking at her face in the water suddenly felt depressed. Her thoughts had wandered again to the handsome man with the blond locks, the prince she had seen if only for a moment when Hector and Paris had returned from Greece. The one who had caught her eye was the last, but when she saw him it was as if everything changed and suddenly she was in love for the first time.

But that love she felt could not be returned she knew. He could have any woman he wanted. How could she be the one he would want? She was just a common girl and being a prince he would not be someone to be seen with someone like her. Cressida sighed. Better to set her sights on someone in her class or just to forget love altogether. War could only spoil it anyway.

[Troilus]

Troilus hurried out of the palace, things were crazy in that place and he needed to be by himself if only for a short time. He knew that he could not stay away from the palace for too long but if he didn't have his own space he would just go crazy. His footsteps took him away from his home and before he knew it he was in the gardens. They were not as beautiful as the palace gardens but they were still quiet and peaceful, filled with colourful flora along with statues of the gods and flowing fountains.

Then he saw her, the girl from the temple, the girl that had been constantly in his thoughts since the first day he had lain eyes on her. He had meant to go back and see her again but the war had broken out and he hadn’t had the opportunity. She was sitting on the edge of a fountain, seeming staring down at the water. He took that moment to study her face, she was just as stunning as the first time he had seen her. Long light brown hair framed a young looking face with light brown eyes that made his stomach feel as if a thousand butterflies were fluttering about inside. He was certain that somebody as pretty as her was bound to have a man in her life already. Besides, he was certain that his parents would never agree to him being with a commoner; it was probably for the best if she did already have someone.

The young Trojan Prince turned to leave and find his own quiet corner when his sandaled foot caught a stray stone on the path, sending it skittering away.

[Cressida]

Cressida had thought she was alone and she was only staring at the water lost in her own thoughts not really looking at her own doleful reflection in the water. She was truly depressed. But weren’t feelings in the war always this way? Everyone had someone to worry about even she although the one she worried for would never know how much she cared.

Then suddenly a sound came from behind her. There was someone here. Someone like her, perhaps? She had heard the sound plainly like a stone, as if someone had kicked it to send it away. Cressida guessed they didn’t care if she knew she was here. But who else would have come here? She couldn’t just send them away. That would be impolite. This was a public place and maybe , like her they wanted to get away from it all.

But whoever it was ate away at her and taking one last look at her reflection for real this time she turned her head and nearly fell into the fountain. It was him. The shock registered on her face was clear. But all she could do was stare and blink at few times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Cressida tried to find hard for something to say, but her mouth felt dry and her tongue refused to move. ‘Say something,’ her mind screamed. ‘Before he goes away,’ but the ability to speak had left her.

[Troilus]

Troilus turned back to see if Cressida had heard him. Quite clearly she had as she was now staring at him; shock visable all over her face. His mind whirled as he looked into her eyes and he opened his mouth to speak to her but the words that he wanted to say seemed to get stuck somewhere between his throat and his tongue. He had never been good at talking to girls and the fact that he was so enamoured with this one did not help at all.

Conflicting thought jumbled their way through his mind; talk to her or leave. He wanted so badly to talk to her but his mouth refused to co-operate. He couldn't leave as his feet didn't seem to want to work either. That left him just standing there, staring at her like he was some kind of damned idiot and that was just not acceptable.

In the end his mouth won out over his feet and he managed a hesitant smile. "Nice day." he finally came out with before mentally berating himself for such a lame line, she must think he was some kind of a fool coming out with something like that. His face blushed a deep scarlet and he stared down at his feet, not wanting her to see his embarrasment.

[Cressida]

Well this was unexpected, Cressida thought. However she just kept on staring and Troilus just stared back at her. The silence stretched on making her slightly uncomfortable. But since she was now facing a prince in a normal setting she decided maybe it was better she didn’t speak. Maybe she should wait until she was spoken to. Isn’t that the way with royalty.

She tired to put on a more relaxed face. Troilus did seem a bit ill at ease just staring there saying nothing. Cressida waited patiently for him to say something, anything. She wanted to sigh just to break the silence, but that would sound foolish.

When finally he did speak the words he said were unexpected. ‘Nice day?’ How could Cressida respond to that especially when he looked down at his shoes as if feeling a bit embarrassed with his comment. Cressida looked up at the sky thinking of a response and said, feeling foolish, “ Yes, it is a nice day,” as if agreeing with his comment. It was all she could think of to say at the moment, and it wasn’t much , but she hoped it was a good start.

[Troilus]

“Yes, it is a nice day,” Cressida replied to his inane comment and Troilus was relieved that she didn't laugh at him. But then, he supposed, it wasn't really the done thing to laugh out loud at a member of the Royal Family. Maybe she thought she would get into trouble if she did and the laughter was on the inside.

Looking over at her he didn't think that she was mocking him in any way and that made him brave. He moved over and sat on the rim of the fountain; but not too close.

"I'm Troilus," he said with a smile, thankfully his face had returned to its normal colour. He was certain that she would know ho he was but he wanted to know what her name was and introducing himself seemed like the best way to find out.

"I come here when I want to get away from the family," he added. "Things are a bit mad back home at the moment."

[Cressida]

Cressida wondered if her response had been the wrong thing to say, but that was quickly squashed when Troilus approached and sat down on rim of the fountain not too near, but near enough that she could even get a better look at him.

Cressida’s mind told her to run, but her body forced her to stay. Besides if she tried to slide away she might fall into the water and die from shame. However, she put a hand behind her to keep herself steady although her heart was hammering in her chest. She wondered if he could hear it.

She heard him introduce himself and she nodded. He had no need because Cressida knew who he was. Anyone from Troy would know who he was. Then she realized he told her his name so she would tell him hers. For a minute she panicked. How could she forget her own name? ‘Calm down,’ she thought and took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she looked at him and said in a quavering voice, “Cressida.” It was all she could say at the moment, but that was her name.

[Troilus]

Cressida's voice wavered when she finally came out with her name and Troilus hoped that she wasn't too nervous to talk to him just because he was of the Royal family of Troy. Not that he was used to talking to the common people of the city, after all he had been raised around nobles his entire life. The only 'normal' people he had any real contact with were the servants of the palace and they just treated him like a prince when sometimes he yearned to be treated like everyone else. That was why he came to these gardens every so often, to get away from being Prince Troilus and just to be Troilus for a few hours.

He mulled over her name in his head as if he were trying it on for size. "You have a beautiful name," he finally said to her, trying to put her at her ease. "It means Gold... your name that is."

He paused for a second before continuing, there was something about this girl that put him at his ease... he felt as if he could tell her anything. "I come here to get away from the family for a few hours," he admitted. "Things are a bit crazy what with the war and everything so its nice to escape even for just a short time."

[Cressida]

Cressida awaited nervously in the silence while Troilus seemed to ponder her name for a minute. ‘ It’s just a name,’ she thought. ‘Nothing really special about it.’ Who would think she, Cressida, a common Trojan girl, special? Not someone like Troilus , she thought sadly. Yet she wondered why he was talking to her of all people.

However his next words made her feel much better. He thought her name was beautiful and it meant gold a very precious metal. She gave him a smile , and then immediately it went away. She felt foolish and probably looked that way to him anyway.

She looked away from him as he continued to speak and she nodded. “I understand,” she said. “I do the same.” She cursed herself for not addressing him properly, but she thought the less she said, the less a fool she could make of herself.

[Troilus]

Cressida smiled and Troilus was amazed as she seemed to grow even more beautiful than before; he didn't think that it was possible for her to become any more lovely but she did.

“I understand,” she said. “I do the same.” She said in reply to his earlier statement.

Troilus smiled, it was nice not being called, "My Lord" and was glad that she was not being too formal with him. He edged slightly closer to her, hoping that she wouldn't mind.

"I hate this war," he admitted to her, his words coming out in a rush. "The Greeks say that it's about Helen and father says it's about trade but I don't know about any of that. All I know is that people are dying, people that I grew up with, that I love."

He blushed, embarrassed at his words yet at the same time feeling a great weight lift from his shoulders. I was good to get out what he was thinking and he felt that he could trust her with anything.

[Cressida]

Cressida’s breath nearly caught in her throat when Troilus edged even closer to her. It wouldn’t be long before he was right next to her. What then? Would she pass out? Perhaps back away and fall into the water? She would die of shame if that happened. She just tried to keep her breathing even though her heart was beating much faster, it seemed and she knew why and hoped he didn’t notice it.

Cressida was relieved when he spoke so she could forget her conflicting emotions and realized she felt the same way about it. “I agree,” she said. “I care about who fights too even if I don’t know them. My kinsmen are losing fathers, sons, brothers, and lovers out there. There is no solace for the ones left behind to mourn them.” She cursed herself for still not addressing him properly , but it might feel awkward to call him anything now even though she had only spent some time with him...alone.

[Troilus]

Troilus was totally oblivious to the effect that he was having on the girl sitting not too far away from him. He was just so excited that he had finally got the opportunity to talk to her. The fact that he was able to talk to her alone was an unexpected bonus for the youngest Trojan Prince.

He nodded thoughtfully as she spoke of her family who had died in the conflict. Great mourning went up when one of the Royal family or when of its noble sons died in the fighting but nobody seemed to care as much when one of the common soldiers lost his life. Even Troilus himself had not given them much of a thought, that was until now and he spoke to someone who was related to one of the forgotten victims of the war.

Troilus shifted slightly closer to Cressida, his heart was thumping so loudly in his chest that he was suprised that she couldn't hear it and in his stomach were butterflies the size of eagles.

"Have you lost anyone close to you?" He asked her gently.

[Cressida]

Cressida tried not to run way when he edge even closer to her. Why was she so afraid of him? Isn’t’ this something she had always dreamed of? Even if he only thought of her as someone normal at least he was talking to her, and maybe even being nice.

The question was unexpected, but she shook her head. “I have lost someone I cared about, but not to death rather an emotional loss. My father…he deferred to the Greeks before the war started. He left me here in the care of my uncle Pandarus. My guess is my father is on the shores of Troy right now as an advisor I guess you could say. He is a man of great wisdom and has pledged his alliance with them. As for losing someone I care about to the jaws of death,” she paused and glanced at him briefly and then feeling like she had given something away looked back down at the ground. “It hasn’t happened yet , but I do fear for his life.”

[Troilus]

Troilus nodded as Cressida spoke of her father who had defected to the Greek side. He remembered all too well the rage that his father had flown into upon hearing the news and how he had sworn to see that traitor's head on a pole over the gates of Troy. It had indeed been a dark day for Troy when Calchas had decided to betray his people and side with the enemy.

He had heard the stories of how Calchas had advised the Greek King to sacrifice his daughter in order to get fair winds to Troy. To say that the priest was not one of the most popular people in the city would be a bit of an understatement.

"My father was none too pleased by his defection," he said tactfully. "I hope for your sake that he isn't outside the city walls for no Trojan will show mercy if they encounter him."

He paused briefly, gathering his thoughts, before continuing. "It must be awful to be betrayed so by someone you love," he added, a look of sympathy painted over his face as he looked at her.

[Cressida]

“Well, I do wish my father had stayed within these walls to take care of me. His wisdom and sight would be helpful during these times, but nothing can be done now. He has left Troy and left me.”

Cressida thought she hadn’t really been too close to her father, but Pandarus had been taking very good care of her. “ My uncle has been wonderful to me. He cares for my very much like a father would and his alliance is with Troy. I’d rather be referred to as niece to Pandarus than daughter to Calchas.”

Cressida hoped Troilus didn’t judge her for being related to Calchas. She couldn’t help being his daughter. Just no one saw what would happen or if her father actually cared about her any more. Would he able to protect her if Troy actually did fall or the Greeks captured her? Or how they really could if she never left the city. Spies were everywhere, but no one would bother with a plain common girl like her and that brought her some comfort.

[Troilus]

Trolius smiled reassuringly as Cressida spoke of her and her uncle's alliance to Troy. "Don't worry," he assured her. "I don't believe that the sins of the father are passed on to their children like some kind of disease. We cannot help the actions of our parents and they should have no reflection on the person that we are."

He took her small hands in his larger ones and looked into her eyes, hoping that he was not being too forward as he did so. "You have done nothing wrong," he assured her. "I am sure that my father knows that both you and your uncle are loyal to Troy."

He thought for a few moments, still holding onto her soft warm hands. "If one of my brothers sees your father out with the Greeks do you want to know about it?" he asked her gently.

He hoped that she said yes, because if she said yes that gave him an excuse to seek her out in the future so he could give her any news of her father and he really wanted to meet with her again.

[Cressida]

Trolius smiled reassuringly as Cressida spoke of her and her uncle's alliance to Troy. "Don't worry," he assured her. "I don't believe that the sins of the father are passed on to their children like some kind of disease. We cannot help the actions of our parents and they should have no reflection on the person that we are."

Cressida gave Troilus a small smile. At least he didn’t think she was a bad person because of her father. Why should he? She was just a young girl caught up in a war that she wished never had happened.

He took her small hands in his larger ones and looked into her eyes, hoping that he was not being too forward as he did so. "You have done nothing wrong," he assured her. "I am sure that my father knows that both you and your uncle are loyal to Troy."

When he suddenly took her hands Cressida tried not to look worried, but felt her face getting warm. She hadn’t know he was close enough to touch her, but just stared at their hands not really hearing what he said, but just nodded.

He thought for a few moments, still holding onto her soft warm hands. "If one of my brothers sees your father out with the Greeks do you want to know about it?" he asked her gently.

When he suddenly took her hands Cressida tried not to look worried, but felt her face getting warm. She hadn’t know he was close enough to touch her, but just stared at their hands not really hearing what he said, but just nodded.Why me?[I] she wanted to ask , but she was afraid to.

[Troilus]

Troilus saw Cressida's face flush as she nodded her reply to his question. He looked down at her hand in his and realised that she was probably blushing because of that physical contact. He let go of her hand and moved away a few inches.

"I'm sorry," he said to her, his voice filled with sincerity. "I should not have held your hand without your permission. It was rude of me and I apologise."

He looked around the garden until he spotted what he was looking for. Standing up, he walked over to a beautiful pink flower and knelt beside it. Pulling his pocket knife out, the prince cut its stem and walked back to where Cressida was sitting. He held it out to her, hoping that she would take it from him.

"A gift," he said. "I hope that you did not take offence."

[Cressida]

Cressida felt relieved , but also disappointment when he released his grip on her hands. Of course she had wanted more from him, but asking him for that would have made her look foolish, and she didn’t want to look more foolish than she already did.

She smiled at him at the small romantic gesture of offering her a simple flower and took it from him and said, “It’s alright. I did not take offence. Thank you for the flower.”

He’s a prince, she thought. He can do what he wants with whomever he wants. She should be no exception, but Troilus was being quite the gentleman so maybe her impression of him had been right.

But then she looked back up at him and said, “My father…You would do that for me? Let me know if he is truly on the beaches of Troy? Why?” the question had passed her lips before she could take it back and now she was suddenly afraid of what he might say.

[Troilus]

Troilus was startled by her question. Why did he want to tell her if her father was on the beaches outside Troy or not. The question mulled over in his head for a few moments. Of course he wanted the excuse to see her again but that wasn't the only reason that he had made his offer.

"I know that if it were me, and my father were out there, that I would want to know," he replied. He paused, once again thinking of his real reason for the offer and wondering if he should tell her. It wasn't exactly the sort of thing that princes went around doing, telling a common girl that he liked her and wanted to see her again. Besides what if she took it the wrong way and assumed he was trying to take advantage of her situation.

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "I would very much like to see you again," he finally admitted in a rush, the words seeming to trip over themselves as they sped out of his mouth. His face deepened into a dark red; she must think him an idiot.