Thread: The Handmaiden's Tale (Wander and Chanti)

Sophie awoke to the sounds of screams and shouting. She bolted upright in her bed, clammy fear sweat breaking out on her skin. Had the enemy breached the walls? But almost in that same moment she heard the joy in the screaming and shouting. Sliding out of bed, clad only in her thin linen bedgown, she hurried to the window overlooking the main street in Troy and peered out. It seemed like the entire city was there, dancing and shouting in exultation around a massive wooden horse that towered over the buildings it was dragged past. She stared in bewilderment, her eyes going from the horse to the crowds to the....open city gates. She was staring, dumbstruck, when the door to her small room burst open and one of her fellow hand maidens stood there. Any trace of enmity was gone, the other girl's face alight with joy. The gods have favored us! Our enemy is vanquished! The war is over! Over? Sophie's voice squeaked, but the girl was already gone. Sophie dressed quickly and flew down to the street on sandaled feet, anxious to confirm the news. She fought her way through the crowds, hearing them shouting praises to the gods. Helen was standing by the wooden horse, a bright smile on her face. Oh, is it true? Sophie begged of her mistress. It seemed in the joy of the moment Sophie was forgiven her earlier transgressions, for Helen hugged her. It is true! The Greeks are gone, and in their place this gift of peace. Helen gestured up to the massive horse. Sophie clapped her hands together in an outburst of joy, and her eyes scanned the crowd looking for her future husband. But when she found him standing in the middle of the road underneath the horse, his face was the only one not overcome with joy. In fact, he looked puzzled as he stared contemplatively at the wooden horse. She looked from Alkides to the horse, trying to decipher the source of his confusion. And then she realized why. None of it made sense. When she had been in the camp only hours before, there had been no indication the massive army was leaving. There was no reason for them to win. They were slowly but surely winning the seige. Why would they leave? She slipped to Alkides side, smiling shyly at him. He returned the smile, but as a warrior he could be forgiven if it was a grimmer smile than hers. People say the horse is a gift from the gods themselves. His voice was dry and sarcastic. Then perhaps we should burn it in sacrifice to them. Someone in the crowd overheard Sophie's quieter response, and evidently approved. A chant began to sprinkle through the crowd. Burn the offering to the gods! Burn the offering to the gods! Helen, however, would not hear of it. She tearfully complained to Paris that this wonderous gift should not be burned. As always, Helen got her way. Wine was brought out from somewhere, despite the starving city. Food was suddenly found in abundance. Sophie knew it was food the nobles had been hiding away from the starving commoners. But celebration was the name of the day, and all day people feasted and danced in the streets. Even Sophie found herself caught up in the triumphant celebration, dancing once with Alkides before he gave her cheek a chaste kiss and vanished in the direction of the barracks. Later that night Sophie was again the favorite of Helen, forced to stand watch at her door while she and Paris made love on Helen's bed. Finally the two slept tangled in the sweaty linens, but Sophie had not been released from her duty. Finally she too succumbed to exhaustion, sinking down to lie on the floor in front of the closed door. Outside, revellers in the streets either slept on the street where they fell or stumbled in drunken oblivion to their homes. Even the soldiers were drunken and near useless if not completely passed out. Some soul had still had the sense to close the city gates, but they were left unguarded except for one half asleep soldier. And Alkides, who stood on the wall looking out over the seaside plain where only hours before the Grecian army had camped.