Week 3 Story: Hector's Fate

Hector's Fate

Achilles was approaching, fast as the wind, and Hector stood to face him. He leaned casually on his spear, by the gate of his beloved city, unfazed by the valiant warrior, the best of the Greeks. As the gap between them closed, Hector took up his spear in a fluid motion and readied it.

They stood and faced one another, the greatest of the Greeks against the greatest of the Trojans. Despite the sweat, glistening at Achille's golden brow, the mighty warrior appeared fresh as if he had just started the fight. There was no sign of fatigue in his limbs or his eyes, keen and ready. It was as if Hector was looking on a god and not a mortal, yet his resolve never wavered, his courage never left him. He stood firm, the defender of Troy.

Achilles hefted his massive spear, a gift from the gods, which only he could wield. He threw first and his spear flew straight. It would have struck true but Hector saw it coming and ducked. The spear hit the ground behind him and lodged in the dirt.

It was time now, time to prove himself. Time to save Troy. Without Achilles, what hope did the Greeks have? The fate of his city, hanging in the balance, Hector threw his spear and he felt the force of it as it left his hands. He knew Apollo had lent him his strength. It was the best throw he had ever made. The spear flew fast and true, it struck with a hollow thud and even Achilles' armor, made by the god of the forge could not stand against it.

The greatest of the Greeks dropped to his knees, the surprise on his face seen even by those standing on the walls of Troy. A cheer went up and Hector heard his name called in praise. He had done it. He had made up for his mistake and killed the biggest threat against Troy. The glory was his!

Hector blinked and realized that it was but a daydream. He was still leaned against his spear and in the distance, he could see Achilles still approaching. The Greek warrior came as swift as a stormcloud, suddenly appearing and bringing with it the wrath of the gods.

Hector remembered the resolution he had felt before. He had chosen not to enter the city so that he could make up for the mistake of leaving the army vulnerable to Achille's might. The night before he had been so confident, now he knew his error. His army had crumpled under the strongest of the Greeks. The bravest had stood against him and been slaughtered, falling as easily as saplings under a woodsman's ax. The rest had run like sheep while he had herded them relentlessly back to the city of Troy, killing as he went.

When he remembered all that had happened that day, he couldn't help feeling shame well within him. He was the leader of the army, he made the decisions. This time, he had made the wrong one. He had grown too confident, he had thought Zeus was on his side. But that was the thing about the gods, sometimes they gave the glory to one man and sometimes to another.

He recalled the feelings of strength and success he had felt when he had killed Patroclus, though doubt flickered in his mind. At the time, he had triumphed but now, he realized that not only had he been helped in the endeavor by the god, Apollo, but the fighting that had ensued for the body had been costly to his army. Besides, it was Patroclus' death which had roused the murderous Achilles back into battle.

He would not relent until he had vengeance for his friend. Hector knew this and knew that he would have to face him. How could he hide in the city when it was his fault the Trojan army had been so staggered this day? He would have been unable to show his face to those who had lost loved ones to Achille's deadly spear.

The Greek was coming now, moving as swiftly as a falcon. It would only be moments before he reached Hector, standing at the gate, waiting to face him in battle. The Trojan prayed to Zeus now to give him glory in battle so that he could make up for his mistake.

He remembered his daydream and decided it must have been a vision, a foretelling from the gods of what was to come. Courage flared within him as he realized he would have the glory in the battle. It was time now, time to stand against the Greek and save his city.

Hector took a deep breath, took up his spear and suddenly he saw Achilles clearly, he saw the great shield and armor, made by Hephaestus, and that cruel unrelenting spear only he could heft. Hector remembered the cries of pain and terror of the men who had died beneath the weapon, his courage failed and he ran.

Author's Note

I chose to write a story based on the Iliad, which I read this week. I decided to focus on the part leading up to the battle between Achilles and Hector. I always felt bad for Hector because he is brave and strong throughout the entire book and yet acts cowardly just before his death. I feel that his last acts taint his image. 

Therefore, I decided to give Hector a moment of glory in which he imagines himself killing Achilles and saving his people. However, he remembers the death of his men and terror fills his heart. Faced with the greatest of the Greek warriors, he cannot stand against him and runs. 

Bibliography

"The Slaying of Hector" retold by A. J. Church, from the Iliad by Homer. Web Source: mythfolklore.

Photo Credit: Triumphant Achilles wikimedia