My name is Karis. I am twelve years old . I am a serving maid to Helen of Troy. People say that she is the most beautiful woman in the world. Every day I climb up to the great walls that surround the city of Troy.

I watch our Trojan soldiers fighting the Greeks on the plain below. Then I go back and give my mistress news of the war.

Helen can never come to the walls now. Too many people hate her. The Greek soldiers hate her because she left her husband, menelaus, the King of Sparta and leader of the Greeks.

Ten years ago, Paris, the son of our King Priam, went to visit Menelaus. Menelaus was kind to Paris and give him many gifts but Paris repaid him by taking his wife. Helen and Paris ran away together toTtroy, and have lived here ever since.