She came to your father in the middle of the night. The Nereid goddess Thetis...With her pearly skin and ink black hair and sea salt smell...And a boy at her side. Golden haired and fine featured...

She spoke with your father while you spied on them and revealed what was happening...

He was Achilles. The greatest of all the Greeks. Prophecized to be a famous hero and die in the war of Ilium. Invulnerable thanks to the river Styx except for a weak spot on his heel...Graceful and swift and beautiful as the dawn...

And it was time for him to die soon.

Helen had been kidnapped. The drafting had begun. Any young man who swore to protect her or who could fight was being called to Troy...and Achilles divine mother couldn't stand the thought of his death.

So he would be hidden here...He was beautiful enough to pass as one of your ladies in waiting and dancers.

And rather soon he was quietly added into their ranks. Called Pyrrha for his golden red long hair. In the silk gown of a maiden with ribbons in his hair and pearl earrings the hero easily looked feminine enough to be one of your dancers. He spoke in a soft lilting tone and could easily keep up in dance and music lessons too...Only you noticed the slight line of an Adam's apple in his throat, the shoulders that were just a little too broad when he stood straight, the fighter's swiftness in his movements.

And he was too smart. He knew you knew. His green eyes linger on you with great caution and wariness as he finds you away from the other maidens playing out in the field sitting on the fountain by yourself. "Princess..." He begins in his soft lilting femininely disguised voice.