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[Cressida]

Cressida wanted to believe him. Would Troilus dare defy his father if someone had been chosen. But Troilus , even if not of marrying age yet was still single maybe there was no one to marry him off to yet. Hector was heir and he was married to a beautiful princess who had given him a son so if Troy stood the future was secure for who would sit on the throne when Priam passed. Unless Hector was killed in battle. But Cressida decided to push that grim thought from her mind. Hector was fine warrior, and he had the whole Trojan army to protect him from harm and the gods as well.

Troilus was the one she had to worry about. Young as he was he would still be expected to go out and fight for Troy. But then those thoughts disappeared when Troilus reached out to touch her face. Cressida had no idea where his hand wanted to go , but it seemed to her to be moving of its own accord.

Then she felt his breath close again and Cressida realized he had moved closer himself. She looked up right into his eyes and then when she felt his lips touched hers she closed her eyes briefly trying not to cry. He was kissing her! Her, of all people. Cressida didn’t know how to kiss, but Troilus seemed to, and she knew what a kiss was, but even if this wasn’t very passionate right now it was still a kiss and it was more wonderful than any loving looks she might get.

[Troilus]

A warm tingling sensation passed through Troilus as he kissed Cressida, her lips were so soft and warm under his. Pulling back and letting go of her face, he looked at her to see her reaction to the kiss. He had never kissed a girl before and he hoped that he hadn't made too bad a johb of it.

"Is it ok?" he asked her, looking at her with an almost childlike hope. "You don't think I was being too forward?"

He hoped that she didn't mind him kissing her and he wanted to bottle this moment and keep it with him. He knew that it would not be long before he was told that he could go and fight for his city and this was the kind of memory that would help him fight well, it would give him something to return to Troy for.

[Cressida]

Cressida was so flustered after Troilus finished she didn’t know what to say. Her eyes had watered even more and if she was going to cry she decided not to fight. “No,” she said, then realized that he might see that as a negative answer. “I mean yes. Oh, I don’t known what I mean,” she said holding her head in her hands.

Still looking at the ground she said dolefully , “Do you know how often I dreamed about you when I was alone? Longing to be with you, longing to kiss you and thinking that you didn’t know or didn’t care. It tore me up inside. But now that you have kissed me I realize I want to be with you even more. So talk to your father. Tell him how you feel. If it’s meant to be , we can be together.

If not in this life , then the next, Cressida thought, but she dared not say that aloud, and just hoped her and Troilus could be together in this life , and war wouldn't take him from her too soon.

[Troilus]

Trolius smiled as Cressida seemed to be flustered over what to say, pleased to hear that she was not offended by his kiss. He had been bought up to be respectful of women and he was glad that she had not taken it wrongly.

“Do you know how often I dreamed about you when I was alone? Longing to be with you, longing to kiss you and thinking that you didn’t know or didn’t care. It tore me up inside. But now that you have kissed me I realize I want to be with you even more. So talk to your father. Tell him how you feel. If it’s meant to be , we can be together."

Cressida's words were like a flower blooming brightly to the young prince and they filled his heart with joy. He stood and looked down at her, holding out his hand for her to take if she wished.

"I am going to speak to my father now," he said to her. "Would you like to come with me?" he grinned at her happily.

[Cressida]

Cressida then looked up at Troilus’ next words and was relieved to see that he must have understood what she meant. When he held out his hand she knew he wanted her to go with him to see his father.

His father. The king of Troy. Her standing in front of the king holding hands with a prince? How would the King take it? He didn’t even know her although her uncle would recognize her immediately and probably wanted them to hide their affections from everyone because of the way society was, but it could only last so long. If Priam did not accept it there was always a way they could be together , but Troilus may no longer be a prince anymore . Would he give up his title for her?

“What if he doesn’t accept us?” she said. “What will you do then?”

[Troilus]

“What if he doesn’t accept us?” Cressida said. “What will you do then?”

Troilus tried his best reassuring face as he smiled down at the woman that he loved. Truth be known, he wasn't entirely sure that his father would approve of their union. He loved his youngest son and wanted the best for him; that was a given. The prince hoped that he would relise that Cressida was what was best for him and not some stranger from a distant land.

However, he did have to face up to the fact that Priam might not give his blessing and he had to prepare for such a possibility. "If he doesn't accept us then I will leave the palace and come and live with you," he replied. "If that is not possible then I would consider leaving Troy, if you would come with me, of course. I could live anywhere just so long as you were with me."

[Cressida]

Leave Troy? He would do that for her? Cressida wanted nothing more than to escape and leave this war behind. So Priam not accepting would not be all bad. It could be a blessing. Her and Troilus could leave Troy together and she wouldn’t lose him if he had to fight.

Cressida nodded. “I understand. I will be happy as long as you want to be with me and if the King doesn’t accept us …well we will decide what to do if you can’t convince him. But I will not give you up now that I know you truly love me. I want to always be with you despite what the rules of society say they have nothing to do with love. And love defies all rules.”

[Troilus]

Troilus had been worried that Cressida would not want to leave the city but a great wave of relief and happiness washed over him as she said that she always wanted to be with him. He wasn't sure where they could go if they had to leave Troy but he was sure that they could find some small part of the world to hide out in and live their lives in peace.

His mind filled with images of himself and Cressida living on a small island somewhere, a brood of children running about under feet. He ran a small farm that produced enough for their family to live on while she took care of the house. Most importantly; they were happy together.

Hopefully that dream would not need to become a reality and his father would realise how wonderful Cressida was. He held out his hand once more and gestured towards tyhe palace with his head. "Shall we?" he asked with a smile.

[Cressida]

Cressida would rather have stayed in the city gardens all day if she could, but this meeting with Priam would haunt her until she stood in front of the king. She didn’t feel ready, but if she didn’t feel ready now, would she ever?

Find your strength in Troilus , she thought. He will help you get through this. And when he stood and offered his hand to her she took his hand and stood herself. Feeling how firm his grip was made her feel better. Troilus would do all the talking unless the King asked her to speak, but she hoped he wouldn’t. She had not learned to speak eloquently like a princess, and knew the King would see right through that if he requested she speak.

[Troilus]

Troilus' smile widened as Cressida took hold of his hand and rose to her feet, her hand was soft in his and the young man was filled with an almost overwhelming desire to protect her. He put on an air of confidence but underneath that he felt as nervous as a colt. He truly didn't know what his father would say about their union and that scared him but he didn't want Cressida to know how he really felt.

Hand in hand with his love, he exited the garden and began to walk back to the palace, ignoring the surprised looks they got. A royal prince and a common born woman strolling hand in hand through the city was not a sight that was seen every day in Troy.

He squeezed her hand gently as they walked to assure her of his presence. "Ignore them my love," he whispered. "They are just jealous."

[Cressida]

Cressida could sense the looks they were getting when they left the gardens. She hated it , of course. They could be jealous, as Troilus said, but there could be other reasons. But she took his advice and tried to ignore it and concentrate on where they were going. Commoners walking next to royalty hand in hand were not seen in Troy. If Troilus was not seen holding her hand they might think her a servant or even a mistress, but Cressida doubted they would. Of course she could never get inside the palace without permission , but Troilus would make sure that he didn’t go in alone.

[Troilus]

Troilus held his head high as they continued their journey to the palace of Troy. The great building loomed up ahead, his home since he was born now seemed like a strange place as they drew nearer.

The guards at the main gate flashed him a look of surprise along with their salute as they passed them by, still hand in hand, and he could sense that they wanted to say something but that propriety stopped them. Troilus hoped that they would not run into any of his family before they reached the King.

He stopped briefly as they entered the palace and asked a passing servant, her arms laden with sheets, where Priam was and was told that the Trojan leader was in his chambers. Another reassuring squeeze of Cressida's hand and he led her along the passages of the palace towards his father's rooms.