Hector+Journal+entry+3

June 4, 2000 BC Dear War Journal,

The time has finally come. I have died. I am writing to you from the Underworld. It is not the place you would expect me to be writing to you from since I am a great warrior. I will fill you in on all that has happened in the past few days. After I had put on the grand armor, my warriors and I went to gather the body of Patroklos from the battlefield. But every one of my warriors who had laid hands on Patroklos was slain by Aias. All day the battle went on for the body of Patroklos. Then when night had fallen, four Greeks lifted up the body. We held them back from leaving the battlefield, though. Then someone came into the battle who frightened my warriors and I. It was the great Achilles himself! He had finally joined the battle! I yelled to my warriors that I, the great warrior and prince of Troy, would take on Achilles. Achilles went through the battle killing captain after captain of my brave warriors. He then caught sight of my brother, Polydoros, who had snuck into the battle since my father, King Priam, would not let him fight because he was too little. Achilles then slew him with his spear. As I saw the death of my kind brother, I got so angry at Achilles for killing him. I went straight up to Achilles. When he caught sight of me he yelled at me for killing his friend Patroklos. I spoke back and told him that the will of the gods will decide who wins or who loses. I lifted up my great spear and flung it at him. Unfortunately, the breath of a god blew it aside. Achilles then darted at me but I thank the gods for hiding me in a mist. He then turned his chariot away and went through my men, killing many captains.

I then went back to the city in search of my lovely wife, Andromache. I got news that she was in the tower by the wall of Troy. I went to go meet her. A nurse was with her holding our infant son Astanax. When I reached for him, he shrank away because he was scared of the great helmet on my head. Andromache and I both laughed as I placed my helmet on the ground. I took the child in my arms and prayed to Zeus that Astanax would grow up to be a great warrior and king. Then I placed him back in the nurse's arms. I told my wife not to be fearful, and put my helmet back on. As soon as I left Troy's walls, Achilles came charging at me once again. My father called to me to come back into the city, but I would not. I knew where my duty lay. It was on the battlefield. I knew in my heart, it was my fault that the Trojan warriors had been defeated and many of the great, brave warriors of Troy have been slain. I spoke to Achilles, asking him that if I died he could only strip me of my armor, but not take my body. The same thing goes for him. Achilles did not agree though. He then through his spear at me but I dodged it. It was then my turn to throw my spear. Unfortunately, the spear bounced off of Achilles' shield. Then I drew my sword and attacked him, but the great armor he wore did not let any of my strokes touch his body. All Achilles was doing was just standing there with his spear in his hand while I attacked. As I went for a second attack on Achilles, he drove his great spear at my neck. It made contact. All I remember is excruciating pain. Then I died.

I do not know what has happened to my body, but I hope it was taken by my Trojan warriors and it was honored. I will miss my beautiful wife, Andromache, my young son, Astanax, who will grow up without a father, and all my friends and family who were fighting for Troy, and for me. At least now I am with my great friends who died to protect Troy. I can apologize to them, because I know that it was my fault that they are dead. Also, my kind brother Polydoros, who did not have to die in this war. I loath Paris because it was he who caused this war. Taking Helen, wife of Menelaus, away from her home and husband. This war caused death of many fine people. Not only from the Trojan side, but from the Greek too. This is my last entry, journal, because there is no point to continue writing when I am in the Underworld.

So long journal, Hector