Lioness

Kneinke

March 29, 2016

Word count; 1902

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Troy' or any of the characters. This story is based on the movie as I have not read the Iliad.

Chapter One:

Past

Feminine screams echoed down the hallways of the castle. The people of the kingdom Phthia waited in anticipation for the new addition of the royal family. The women gossiped in each other's company if the child would be a boy or a girl, if they would be just as handsome as the eldest; Achilles. The men wondered if the child would be just as strong as the first, would they to be trained to fight in wars?

Inside the castle walls, the King and his first born stood outside the door his wife lay giving birth to their second child and first sibling. Father and son were both exited, they did not care for the gender as the child would be loved either way.

If it would turn out to be a boy, he would train and eventually hunt and fight with them. Would they be a girl, she would be doted and protected and both doubted they could refuse the girl anything she asked.

Another violent scream bounced through the castle and Achilles could not help but wince at the pain his Mother must have felt. His Mother was a nymph and often made seashell necklaces for him.

The King, Peleus, knew from experience with Thetis, that childbirth could take long hours and took the mothers a lot of effort and pain. So he was relieved when the door opened and a midwife stepped out to retrieve them.

Slowly King and prince walked into the bedroom, what they saw brought smiles to both their faces. Sitting in the middle of bed sat the exhausted Queen, a small, happy grin settled on her beautiful face. Achilles waited at the foot of the bed as Peleus walked to his wife and the new addition of the family.

The smile that covered his aging face was enough for Achilles to inch forward to sneak a look at his new sibling. His Stepmother saw his slow pace and welcomed him with open arms. As he stood next to them he finally got a good look at his sister. A soft looking tuft of blonde hair sat atop her head while gorgeous big blue eyes looked up to him with admiration. Hesitantly he reached out, looking up to his parent for permission. Both nodded and watched with proud smiles as their first child, seven summers older then the babe in her arms, gently trailed the back of his fingers down her cheek.

"What will her name be?" The question softly came out of Achilles mouth. Husband and wife looked at each other, before the King placed a fatherly hand on his son's shoulder. With a reassuring smile down at the boy when he looked up, he said. "We thought you should name her, Achilles."

With big eyes he looked between his parents, who nodded in encouragement. He thought for a moment as he turned his eyes down to his little sister's eyes that where identical to his. When the babe lifted her little hand up and placed it on his chin. She kept it there for as long a she could before her arm fell back down. Achilles could see a strong, smart and gentle women growing in her eyes and he smiled as he realised what name would fit her perfectly. "Leandra."

Peleus smiled and stroked the tuft of blonde hair. "Our little lioness."

Present

On the land of Thessaly, two armies stood before each other. One defending their Kingdom, the other waiting to conquer it. The two Kings rode in chariot. Agamemnon, King of Mycenaeans rode with a proud stance to meet his opponent. Triopas, King of Thessaly stood annoyed and slightly afraid in his own chariot. Yesterday had been a blood bath and that was something he did not wish to repeat.

As they meet in the middle of the field, both Kings step down their chariot, there sceptres of command in hand as approach each other. They stare each other down for several seconds before the King of Kings smiles and looks up into the sky. To the crows flying overhead. "It's a good day for the crows."

Triopas looked away in frustration before he tensely replied "I told you yesterday and I'll tell you again today. Remove you army from my land." Agamemnon smiled and threw a quick glance around the valley.

"I like your land. I think we'll stay." He took a glance at the soldiers behind their King, "I like your soldiers, too. They fought bravely yesterday. Not well, but bravely."

King of said soldiers huffed "They won't fight for you."

"That's what the Messenians said," Agamemnon's lip twitched up "And the Arcadians and the Epeians. Now they all fight for me."

Triopas shook his head quickly, "You can't have the whole world, Agamemnon." The King of Kings let out a laugh. "It's too big, even for you."

Agamemnon surveys the army standing in front of his own. "I don't want to watch another massacre." He turns back to their King and looks him up and down. "Let's settle this war in the old manner. Your best fighter against mine."

For the first time since their talk the old King looks slightly hopeful. "And if my man wins?"

Agamemnon gave a small dip of his head. "We'll leave Thessaly for good." His lips twitch. "I'm a generous man. If mine wins, you can keep your throne. But Thessaly falls under my command, to fight with me whenever I call."

Triopas considers his options before agreeing. He turned to his army and shouted. "Boagrius!" He turned back to his opponent a smug look on his face. The men of his army cheers for the campion who pushes them aside to come up in front of the army. He is a giant of a man, scars littered over his body.

His King proudly points over his shoulder with his thumb as he said, "This is my man."

Agamemnon mockingly raises his eyebrows. He kept eye contact with the old King as he yelled for his own champion. "Achilles!"

When his army stays quiet and no Achilles steps forward, Triopas raises his eyebrows in amusement. "Boagrius has this effect on many heroes."

Not wanting to be the source for mockery Agamemnon lowly said "Careful who you insult old King." He only smiled innocently.

A rider comes up to the King of Kings. "My King, Achilles is not with the army." Angered, Agamemnon growled. "Where is he?" The nervous rider replied instantly. "I sent a boy to look for him." Agamemnon gave a nod before another thought crossed his mind. "And that wench of a sister?"

The rider fidgeted nervously, "Not here either, sire." Agamemnon narrowed his eyes nastily. "Tell the boy, I want both of them here." Nodding quickly, the rider raced of. He hoped the boy had not gone yet, defying any King was a death sentence and Agamemnon was the worst.

A young boy rode into the Mycenaean camp. He stopped his horse in front of one of the tents, a big, black horse stood next to it. He slid of his own horse and hesitantly pushed the leather tent flaps aside.

Halfway inside the tent he pauses at the sight of three naked people lying on the cot. Slowly, he walks over to the cot, careful of the things scattered around.

Bending down, the boy reaches out to shake the great warrior awake. Before he can fully touch him, Achilles arm shoots out and grabs the front of the boys worn chiton.

"I was having a good dream." He lets the boy go and turns his head away. Carefully watching the warlord, the boy spoke. "King Agamemnon sent me. He needs to-" Achilles cuts him of, clearly enjoying himself with the two women next to him. "I will speak to your king in the morning."

Hesitant, the boy tried again, "But, my lord, it is morning. They are waiting for you and your sister." Achilles lifted his head up and lets out a sigh. Rudely shoving one of the woman of him, he got up and started putting on his armor. "Have you talked to my sister yet?"

The boy quickly shook his head. "No, my lord, the officer that send me did not tell me where I could find her." Achilles said nothing, pushing his helmet into the boys arms.

Walking outside to his horse, he said his shield and spear on the ground for the boy to hold. Once he held it, Achilles commanded him to wait there for him.

He walked to a tent across from his own. Pushing the flaps of the tent out of the way, he chuckled at the sight of his sister splayed out in one of his tunics. He stepped forward, letting the leather slide back into place as he nudged the sleeping blonde with his foot.

A groan flew out of her mouth as she rolled over and away from the disturbance. Shaking his head in amusement, he crouched down and grabbed Leandra's shoulder. Lazily she swatted at it, "Leave me be."

Getting slightly annoyed at his sisters antics, he gave her a hard enough shove to roll her of her cot and into the sand floor.

"Hey!" Leandra sputtered sitting up, her eyes still glazed over as she tried glaring at her brother. A cocky grin spread over Achilles' face as she tried to intimidate him. It was an impossible task with bleary eyes and a tunic that was clearly too big for her. "Get up, Agamemnon send for us."

Leandra rolled her eyes, "And? The man can wait until morn." Achilles held out his hand for her, "It is morning, Leandra." Sighing she clasped her hand with his. "Get dressed and meet me outside."

"Are the stories about you true?" The boy asked when Achilles returned and climbed onto his horse. "They say your mother is an immortal goddess." He held his hand out for his helmet, which the boy gave. "They say you can't be killed."

Placing his helmet on his head, he glanced at his sisters tent. "I would not be bothering with the shield then would I?" Achilles held out his hand out for his shield and spear, "The Thessalonian you are fighting," The boy picked them up and gave it to him. "He is the biggest man I have ever seen. I would not want to fight him." Achilles looked down to the boy, "That is why no one will remember your name."

A hand on his shoulder made the boy glance up in shock, only to see a beautiful face smiling down at him. "Do not listen to him, boy, he's just a cocky bastard." The boy was shaken out of his daze when the blonde let out a yelp of pain. He glanced between the two to notice Achilles smirking down to the blonde and her rubbing the back of her head.

She glared up at her brother but accepted his hand to help her onto the horse behind him. A pinch in the arm and one last smile down at the boy the two blonde siblings left nothing but dust in their wake.