An apple, a horse and a heel

She was known far and wide for her beauty. She was envied by the goddesses. She was blamed for the war. As if her mere existence was the sin of humanity. She was used, possessed, and eventually discarded. But she was more than what they saw. 

Helena was fierce. Helena was a fighter. But how can you not be when they marry you to someone you don’t love? And how could you not be fooled by the promise of love and care? Helena was tempted. And she travelled the seas. She travelled as a queen, as a trophy, as the spoils of the war to come. And she travelled with the hope of more. But all she found was fear. Fear and war. 

Helena was much more than her pretty face. She was much more than a trophy. And still, men fought for her possession. Men fought and died. Cities burned and crumbled. Gods meddled in the affairs of mortals. 

Helena was smart. She saw what was coming, but she kept quiet. She held her dagger under her dress. And she bid her time. She would one day find her home. She would one day find the peace she wanted. She would one day be finally away from all these people who didn’t see her. She would come out the other end. 

And in a way, she did. She did come out the other end. She found her home. A nation was named after her. But she never saw it. She fell victim to an apple, and a horse, and a heel. She fell victim to men blinded by possession. She fell victim to goddesses blinded by vanity. 

And even though history remembers her name, she’s still known for her beauty. She’s still envied by goddesses. She’s still blamed for the war that erased a country.