Paris was the son of a Queen, one of the Princes of Troy - and a very handsome one as well. However, he had no idea that he came from such noble and ancient lineage... a diviner had foretold that he would be the ruin of Troy, and so his father - weeping with tears - had given him over to a servant to expose in the wilderness. The servant did as he was told, but returned a day later to find the babe still alive... regretful of killing such a sweet and strong child, the servant gave him over to one of the shepherds of the mountainside. So Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, was raised a shepherd, daydreaming his days away on the hills with the sheep. With his handsome face and strong body, he attracted a lot of female attention... however, Paris' placid life filled with daydreaming on hills was soon about to change.
The Gods were all attending the wedding party of Peleus and Thetis, all except one minor Goddess - Eris the Goddess of Discord. Most would have thought it understandable that Peleus and Thetis didn't want Discord at their wedding, but Eris was extremely angry about not being invited. She took one of the apples of Hesperides and threw it amongst the guests. Startled, they picked it up and read the inscription which said, "To The Fairest".
Although Peleus and Thetis had not invited Discord, it was immediately amongst them as the Goddesses began to fight about who the apple should go to. Hera - Queen of the Gods, Athena - Goddess of Wisdom, and Aphrodite - Goddess of Love, were all convinced that the apple belonged to them. Wisely, the male Gods stood back and let the females bicker it out for themselves, knowing better than to involve themselves in such a dispute.
All the way back to Olympus the Goddesses argued, leaving the others no peace with their squabbling dispute. Finally Zeus, greatest of the Gods, decreed that he would choose an impartial judge to decide...
Already knowing of the handsome royal shepherd boy, Zeus took the three Goddesses down to where Paris lounged on the hill, dreamily watching over his flock. The young man started with astonished surprise as a very muscled and handsome man appeared before him, three beautiful ladies behind him.
"Hello Paris," said Zeus, his voice booming, "I, Zeus, Greatest of the Gods have decided that you will be an impartial judge over which of these three Goddesses is the most beautiful. You will give this golden apple to the Goddess that you choose." And Paris held the golden apple of discord, beautiful and dangerous, in the palm of his hand.
Hera stepped forward first, Queen of the Gods, her ivory body was perfection; the swells of her curves luscious and inviting, her face was too perfect to be real and she moved with a boneless grace that made Paris' mouth go dry as she approached him. Black eyes were kind and inviting as she leaned down towards him, her wine-red lips close to his ear; sweet breath on his cheek made him close his eyes as he was filled with inarticulate longing...
"Choose me," she whispered, her voice husky and filled with persuasive promise, "And I will make you the most powerful man in the world... Kings will bow to you, no one will be able to stand against you, and you shall be my Champion on earth."
Then Athena stepped forward as Hera moved off to the side, armed in her battle gear and yet magnificently beautiful and feminine, despite her manly attire. Grey eyes flashed with passion and hidden depths as she whispered to him, "Choose me, and I will make you the wisest man in the world. People will come from all over to hear your wisdom and you shall never want for anything again... no one will be able to defeat you ever, for all your power shall come from within yourself."
Aphrodite was last, and Paris could feel his groin tightening as she swayed forward, although she was not actually more beautiful than either Hera or Athena, she had a way of movement that made her the most seductive of them all. Her clothing showed nothing and yet hinted at everything, flashes of marble skin that were gone before the eye even had time to really register them. Amber eyes, lips of purest red, lashes that brushed against his cheek as she leaned forward.
"Give me the apple," she whispered huskily, her voice full of lovers moans in the night, "And I will give you the most beautiful woman in the world for your wife."
Paris stared up at her with longing, the effect of the three beautiful goddesses might have killed another man, but he was born in a line of Kings although he knew it not. The three stood before him, glorious and stunning. He honestly could not decide which was the most beautiful... but he did know which of the prizes offered that he wanted the most. Their magnificent beauty had affected him more than either Hera or Athena had realized; although he knew that he could have none of the Goddesses, surely the most beautiful woman in the world would have at least a fraction of their glory. And he could be content with that.
Mutely, unable to speak, he held the golden apple out to Aphrodite, Goddess of love. She smiled and walked forward as both Hera and Athena screamed their fury and vanished.
Within days Aphrodite had already started to change Paris' life, giving him the Princely robes he deserved and telling him of his true heritage. She gave him a retinue and chariot, sent him to the gates of Troy where he was recognized as the true son of Priam. Although his father remembered the prophecy, he could not turn his son away again. Not such a fine, wonderful young man... and he was family. All these years King Priam had regretted the loss of his younger son, he would not send him away a second time.
This set of events set in motion a chain, which Cassandra - Paris' prophetic sister - would bring a conflagration of flames onto Troy. Young and naive, Paris interpreted this to mean his passion for the most beautiful woman in the world, whom he decided would look much like the goddesses he had seen earlier that morning.
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Paris was enamored. Not only was Helen of Sparta stunningly beautiful, but she was obviously sweet-natured and erotic; her breasts barely bound under clothe, pink nipples poking through the thin material. Menelaus obviously wanted to show off his wife to his foriegn allies, the Princes Hector and Paris of Troy; Menelaus' acquisition of Helen had been a bit of a coup after all. Having been chosen from numerous suitors, and now all of them were sworn to protect him against the others, ensuring that no one would be so rash as to endanger his wife. Helen's father had been quite wise when choosing a husband for his daughter, wanting to ensure her safety and see that she would not be used as a pawn.