Author's Note Updated 9/25/17: I try to make my notes all at the beginning and the end so that you don't loose the flow of the story.

For those new to my stories, I write all of my Dark-Hunter fanfics as novella length continuations of the series, as best as I can. I try to avoid making any guesses as to where Sherilynn Kenyon is headed with her series, or over arching story lines. Instead, I simply wrote stories for some of my favorite characters who have yet to have their stories told, so I do guess at their backstory if it hasn't been shared in the DH books yet. Ms Kenyon could easily shatter each one of my stories as new books come out. And, that has in fact happened as I created a story that included Hecate as a character. Then Dragonmark came out and she is referenced in the book. It throws her whole role in my Achilles story out the door in so far as cannon goes. So, please take some of it with a grain of salt. These are just my attempts at giving more characters their happily connected relationships in one form or another.

Also be warned that I do write with Ms Kenyon's foundations of sex, violence and abuse. Though I may cuss a bit more. Depending on the story. They are all rated M for these reasons. And be aware that there may be SPOILERS if you have not read the DH series up to Dragonmark.

I started these stories two years ago and my writing has improved. I hope to spend some time going back to my earlier stories and seriously working on rewriting (not content, but fixing grammar and any major cannon issues as they popped in). I also gave all of the stories dates just to help me remember who was where as I wrote them, as several of the stories do overlap a fair amount.

This story, is fortunately the most independent of them all as it is mostly set in ancient times. I created many of my own characters for these stories. So, headed into this story, please know that new characters include Iphegenia, Agamemnon, Elatos, Hecate, Vasani, V'Dona, Nisa, Felix, and others are not from Ms Kenyon's books.

If you would like to read my other stories in chronological order, they are:

Achilles (ancient to modern), Deimos, Colt, Kell, Phobos, Morginne, Remi (has a broader timeline), Ethon (falls during Remi)

If you would wish to read things in clumped information, the order is:

Achilles and Remi can be read completely independently, before or after the other clumps. Clump one- Deimos and Phobos. Clump two- Colt and Kell. Clump three- Morginne and Ethon.

So, enough with my crap, on to the story...

"Sing, Goddess, of the rage of Peleus' son, Achilles, the accursed rage that brought great suffering to the Achaeans." The Iliad, by Homer.

May 1194 BC, Aulis

The call for war had gone out across all of Greece. King Agamemnon had rallied the call on his brother's behalf. Those deceitful Trojans had dined with King Menelaus and enjoyed his hospitality, then took off with his wife in tow. It was the greatest of dishonors. Not that the Greeks had much need for a reason to start a war with Troy, they had been itching for a reason for quite some time. But, the idiotic prince, Paris, was just stupid enough to give them one.

Achilles shook his head as he wandered around the market of Aulis. He just could not understand the thinking of Paris. No woman was worth starting a war of this scale.

As the famed prince of the Myrmidons, Achilles commanded fifty of his father's ships into this war. Yet, he was in Aulis to meet up with the other forces from other kingdoms. Together, theirs was a fighting force the likes of which the Trojans had never seen before. Troy was destined to fall for its arrogance. All for what? A woman?

Well, Troy would cower, if they could ever get the damn ships out of port. Achilles grumbled in his own head.

His anger over the circumstances of him still being in Aulis had his rage boiling. And everyone kept a wide girth around him because of it.

Typically, people would approach him, despite his surly demeanor. After all, he was a hero.

Despite the fact that he was barely 18 years of age, he had already gained a reputation as a prince, as a warrior, as a lover, and more importantly, as a demigod. People fawned over him, trying to take him to bed so that they can boast of the demigod and his prowess. The fact that he was 6'3", with skin of a bronzed complexion that pulled over his chiseled muscles, dark blond hair and rich hazel green eyes; well, that certainly helped. Men, women, boys, girls. They were all the same. Everyone wanted a piece of his ass in one way or another. Many times, he was more than happy to let them have at him.

The sex was a welcome distraction to his rage. Yet, today, his anger was so palpable, everyone kept their distance.

For being the son of the goddess of justice, Themis, Achilles never really felt like calm justice himself. He had been born with rage. Intense, consuming rage. It was what made him such a fierce warrior at such a young age. He did not fear death or injury, he just focused on hurting his opponents. His father had even sent him to be trained by the centaur named Chiron in hopes that Chiron could help him ease the anger. Yet, nothing helped.

And days like this, made it even harder to find the control over his anger.

Why couldn't they figure out why the winds were so against them? Had the gods already given their judgement that the war was not justified? That could not be. What could be more justified than the great public insult that was handed to Menelaus?

Without having a direction in mind, Achilles wandered his way toward the harbor, where his ships were still anchored. It was strange that the fishing boats could still leave. Other ships could still arrive. Only the larger ships that needed the aid of the wind were trapped. They had all been cursed.

As he walked up the docks and surveying the useless fleet before him, another ship arrived and was quickly secured to the wooden dock. Curious, Achilles stopped to watch. Who was it that just arrived? The fleet should have left three weeks ago, so it should not be another supply of soldiers.

To his surprise, Queen Clytemnestra regally descended from the ship with two of her children in tow. The oldest was a girl, around the age of 12 or so. The other was a son, almost old enough to begin his trainings. The family was exquisitely dressed in all of the fineries of their station, as though they were to be presented. Knowing that the army assembled was in as sour of a mood as he was, Achilles stepped forward to offer his aid as an escort to the Queen's husband, King Agamemnon.

To his surprise, the queen was quite endeared to the gesture and took his arm. Achilles looked askance at Clytemnestra. She was a very beautiful woman, though older than the women that he usually would consider taking to his bed. And she was, of course, the king's wife. So, that put her firmly in the "not on the menu" list. From all of the rumors, the queen was very loyal to her husband. So, why was she so delighted by his escort?

They walked in silence for a short time, until they reached the market. The boy clung to his mother's side in the chaos of people. The little girl, had walked ahead of Achilles and the queen in silence until she saw all of the shops and bounced in excitement, ogling only the most lavish of wares. Especially an enameled hair comb set with pearls.

"Iphigenia, I am sure that you can return to shop later. I would imagine that Prince Achilles here would be more than happy to escort you." Clytemnestra squeezed his arm. "But, we must attend your father first."

Achilles was growing more confused as the queen claimed some level of comfort with him. But, nothing had prepared him for the words to come out of the queen's mouth.

"Dear Prince, it is wonderful to see that your father raised such a respectable son. We are greatly honored that you have agreed to take Iphigenia's hand. I know that she will make a loving bride."

Come again?

Achilles looked back and forth between the queen and her daughter who had stopped and walked up to him to take his hand.

"I promise to do my best to please you, my prince." Iphigenia said quietly. She was almost shaking, she looked so nervous.

What in the hell had Agamemnon done? Achilles had never agreed to a marriage. And, he certainly did not want to marry the girl in front of him. She was too young, too innocent, too... spoiled. Iphigenia was still short and skinny with no curves, as girls of her age are. Achilles prefered women who had grown into their curves and had at least some experience in life.

Yet, Iphigenia stood in front of him, offering herself as his bride. Her light brown hair fell in loose waves to the middle of her back, unadorned or styled, as a child. Her golden brown eyes still held a naive innocence while set between the freckles of her tawny face.

He knew that he would make a terrible husband. He could not remain faithful to one woman and no woman should have to take his temper. Achilles could not bring himself to even contemplate such an arrangement because he knew that eventually he would only hurt her. And worse, he was cursed to die young. She should be protected from those hardships.

Achilles gently pulled himself away from the two women. "I don't know what to say my lady. But, I have not been consulted on any marriage plans."

Clytemnestra's face began to darken. Achilles feared for a scene in the middle of the market, when she was distracted by her son who tripped and scraped his knee. Being the good mother, she quickly tended to the boy.

Achilles called for one of his commanders who was just down the street. "Menesthies, can you please escort Queen Clytemnestra and her two children to King Agamemnon?"

Menesthies agreed and Achilles all but ran from the awkward confrontation in the market. Achilles had no time for this, his rage was spiking fast and he did not want to be around anyone if it blew.

His father couldn't have arranged a marriage without consulting him, could he?

His rage battled his quest for control as he walked aimlessly once again. Before he knew it, he had drawn close to the King Agamemnon's tent.

Achilles had started to turn another direction when a strange man crossed his path and blocked it with his arms crossed. He was just a couple inches shorter than Achilles with dark blond hair and odd lavender eyes.

"Move out of my way." Achilles growled.

But the man remained, silent and unwavering.

Achilles knew that he could force his way through, and damn if he didn't want to do it. But, if he gave in, his rage would take over and there was no telling what else he would do. Trying not to lose all control, Achilles relented and took the path closer to Agamemnon's tent. As he approached, he could hear the screams from Queen Clytemnestra inside.

Oh, she was furious.

Agamemnon tried his best to placate the queen. But, she was able to see through all of his lies and misdirections. Finally, the king relented.

"Nessie, I don't have a choice here! I screwed up." The king said with a pause of grief. That caught Achilles's attention. "Three weeks ago, I was out hunting while we waited for the last of our allies to arrive. Yet, it appears that the doe that I took was one belonging to the goddess Artemis." The queen gasped at the revelation. "Artemis has punished us all for my grave error. She has turned the winds against us and left the entire army trapped here. I went to several seers and prophets to seek a solution. They have all told me that the only way to lift the accursed punishment is to offer up my eldest virgin daughter as sacrifice."

"What?" The queen shrieked at her husband. "You can't do this! She is your daughter!"

"I know. But, if I don't, we won't have to worry about Troy. Our own men will destroy us out of anger for this curse. They are barely a step away from all out riot already. The decision has been made. The sacrifice will be held in the morning."

The queen broke down in sobs as she tried to beg her husband to change his mind. But, he was resolved.

Achilles could not believe what was happening. They had been trapped because the king killed the wrong deer? And as compensation they must sacrifice a young girl? How could this be just?

Then he noticed Iphigenia hiding in a corner. She had heard everything.

Achilles's heart broke to see the fear and tears in her eyes as she wrapped herself into a protective embrace against the trunks on the ground. To her credit, she held the tears back as long as possible.

She is just a child!

"Iphigenia?" he called to her as he walked closer.

She did not respond as she stared at her father's tent, letting her tears finally roll. Achilles could not blame the girl. That was far more than any child should have to hear.

For some reason that he could not understand, he felt bad for her. He wanted to protect her. Perhaps he had more of his mother's understanding of justice in him than he had realized. So, he knelt down and scooped Iphigenia into his arms and held her while she cried.

As the tears started to dry, she finally spoke to him. "I am sorry that I was not enough for you to consider for your bride my lord."

He was shocked. She is facing death in the morning and she is apologizing for not being his perfect woman?

He looked down into her beautiful brown eyes and innocent freckles. "You have nothing to apologize for child. I am just not the marriage type. And it was certainly not your fault that your father sent for you under false pretenses."

She shook her head in resolve. "At least my death will be in honor. It will be to save our people. I always knew that I was too plain looking to ever really make a man happy. And it would be a dishonor to my father if I could not please my husband. This way, I at least can have a chance to bring honor to my family."

He did not know what to say. As much as he wanted to argue with her, he knew the truth. Women had very few options in life. For royal women, there were even fewer. The entire existence of royal children was wrapped around helping to uphold family honor. For boys, it was expected that they prove that honor through warcraft, statesmanship, and leadership. For girls, their honor all revolved around how best they could please their politically arranged husbands and run a household. Where the men could whore around and ignore their wives without concern; women were expected to remain faithful, continue to please their husbands, and raise the children. It was simply the reality of social expectations.

Yet, this child was so well trained, that she was fully resigned to her lot in life. She knew that she was nothing but a pawn to be used as a bargaining chip in political alliances or the sacrificial lamb to the gods. Her acceptance and courage touched his heart. But more than that was her loyalty to her family and people. So few people carry such a combination of virtues, let alone at such a young age.

Achilles wrapped his cloak around Iphigenia as the night air cooled. Once she stopped crying enough to join her family in her father's tent, Achilles went off in search of Artemis.