The Feminine Perspective

I doubt I will ever understand the mind of men. How they can be perfectly civilized one moment, and ferocious animals the next. Never has there been a creature of greater stupidity than that of a man in love. Aeneas and Turnus are no exceptions to this point. In fact they're existence only helps prove my point.

Being the daughter of a king I knew I wouldn't have any say in who I marry. I'm a diplomatic trading point. My purpose in life is to be a diplomatic promise between my kingdom, and whichever kingdom my father wishes to marry me into. Some may think this to be a dreadful position to be in, but I accepted my lot at a young age. I even cherished the thought of becoming a sort of promise of peace between my country and whichever country I was married off to. I thought of it as serving my country, as my duty. There's something oddly reassuring to know the way my life will play out, or to at least understand my purpose. Knowing that my purpose is to protect my citizens. I couldn't ask for a better purpose.

When I was first introduced to Turnus I immediately recognized him as a blundering imbecile, but as long as I knew marrying him would be for the better of my country I was okay with it. However when Aeneas arrived and my father decided I would be better off marrying Aeneas things started going bad. I've never even spoken to Aeneas, and yet he's willing to fight a war for me. I suppose in some backwards way he think he is doing me a favor by slaughtering my kinsmen, by burning their homes, and by pillaging the countryside. The worst part is he does it under my name!

Even though I have lifted no weapons, decreed no orders, and have remained completely neutral in this war people blame me. All thanks to Aeneas. Yelling my name as he slaughters my brothers and sisters. As I walk around the war conference people look at me with disgust. As if I asked Turnus and Aeneas to duke this out over me. Already so many good men have been lost on both sides. The Arcadian prince Pallas, cut down in youth. Lausus and his father Mezentius. Thousands more I do not know by name, and no doubt thousands more than that will be slain before this ridiculous war will be ended.

Turnus promised to duel Aeneas in a one on one battle today. Whether he is actually brave enough to do that I do not know. However, maybe if they did duel it would bring an end to this war finally. The bloodshed could finally end, and I would marry the victor. I hate to see either man die, but one man's life is easily worth thousands of other's. I honestly do not care which one wins, as long as this violence ends, and as long as my people are safe. If that is satisfied I do not care who it is, I just want to protect my people. That is all.