As I continued my report twelve more years have passed. Helen's husband raised a great force and went to Troy, and for nearly ten years they have been beseiging it. There has been battle after battle! Many good friends have fallen. Creos has told me that the Greek commander is planning a deception in hopes of luring The Trojans into making a mistake. But he thinks the plan has errors, and wishes me to come up with him and convince the commander to accept an alternate plan. I will go with him.
2 Things with us have been bad and they have been good. My wife has only had two children in the last ten years, and her frustration is great. Only her joy that Europa has had six children during this time; two single births, and two sets of twins, has kept her happy that we are doing our duty as Olympians! There was one amusing incident. Aphroditi was carrying on with Airs when, for a time, she got distracted with Creos, thinking he could not give her a child. She was quite wrong! She had a boy, but as it grew it was obvious Airs was not the father, because wings began to develop like those that Creos has, and the child developed an incredible power to influence men and women to be attracted to each other. Aprhoditi tries not to pay too much attention to the child, but he is so lovable that it is hard for any of us not to pay attention to him. Notwithstanding, the feelings between Creos and Airs continue to be antagonistic, though they do cooperate, at times.
3 My wife is looking for another native female for me to spend time with. I don't know where I would find it, but she is looking.
4 Here is my report on what happened at Troy.
5 We arrived and the Greek commander greeted us warmly. Creos noted that they were building something. "We've heard what you've got in mind," he remarked, "and it isn't going to work! If The Trojans suspect at all, that there are people inside this wooden sculpture they'll either tear it apart, or, set it on fire. I have another plan, if you will listen."
6 "I am always open to good advice!" the commander answered.
7 "Instead of putting people in your wooden horse," Creos went on, "put in some of your belongings, things that are of value but you wouldn't want to take the trouble of taking home with you. There are caves nearby. Select a good body of men and dress them in the enemy's clothes, and give them the enemy's weapons and shields. Have them hide in the caves. Airs and I will block the cave entrances with stones that it would take five men to move, and then we will make it look like the rock falls have been there for a long time. When The Trojans think you are gone, they will begin to celebrate. Many of them will be outside the city in your old encampment. With them going back and forth all the time, they'll leave the gates open. A couple of bodies of men seemingly drunk, returning to the city would not be noticed. When your men are on the way to the gates I will come to you out at sea and tell you to return. With the gates open you will be able to take the city."
8 "A modified version of my plan!" the commander remarked. "I like it! Select the caves, I will gather the men and give them five days' provisions. They will make no sound until you open the caves to let them out.. We will be waiting for you at sea!"
9 Of course I do not have to tell you the plan worked perfectly! Creos and Airs let out the hidden troops, they took the gates, the ship returned and The Greeks were on those outside the city before they even knew they were there! Even, still, with the gates open, every man in the city, and even some of the women took our farms, and the fighting was severe for four days. Then a fire started. Many of the defenders had to flee the city into the fields where they tried to fight, but in the open the numbers were against them. FInally, on the sixth day, Greek troops approached the temple at the top of the city, where they found Helen in armor, standing guard with some of the city's women, also with weapons!
10 "I am Helen, queen of Sparta!" she cried. "These women and children are under my protection! Bring forth your commander!"
11 The Greek commander quickly came up. "Our Lady," he greeted, "our queen! We are here to take you home! What disturbs you?"
12 "I want your guarantee," Helen insisted, "that none of these women will be touched without their consent, that those whose husbands are still alive will be reunited with them and sent into exile, to whatever city that chooses to take them, that the widows be taken as wives, and their children be adopted by whatever man chooses them. I wish them to be treated with dignity and respect!"
13 "Your wishes will be carried out!" the Greek commander promised. "All that you have said will be done. We have been fought with honor and courage! We will show honor in return."
14 "Good!" Helen answered, dressing her sword. "There is one other thing. If Paris is captured alive, him, his mother, and his son are my responsibility. They are to be given to me."
15 "As you wish!" the commander agreed. "The offense was against you. What justice you want to dispense is up to you."
16 So the next day with Creos and I as witnesses, Helen had the three brought to what was left of the ramparts. She had had a table brought out. "You wished to have the blood of The Gods in your family," she told Paris' mother. "You kidnapped me, thinking I was Zeus' daughter so your son could have Zeus' descendants. Put the boy on the table!" she snapped.

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