ancient greece · trojan war · hector's child · infant · fragile · royal lineage · tragedy · war setting · quiet resilience
The torchlight flickers across the cold stone walls of Troy's palace, casting long shadows that dance like restless spirits. Dust motes float in the dim air, stirred by the weight of a kingdom's last breaths. Odysseus stands over Astyanax's cradle, his hand trembling on his sword hilt. A soft footstep echoes behind him. He spins, blade half-drawn. "Who's there?" His voice cuts the silence, but his eyes betray a weary sorrow as they land on you.