A/N Thanks for reviewing

A/N I know that in Ancient Greece, Spartan Woman had the most freedom. Ancient Sparta with their free women didn't exist in the time of Troy, so I'm afraid to use the liberal demeanor of Spartan women unless someone can tell me that it was during the time of 1200 B.C.

I'm not planning on having the fic being long. As to the whole slash idea, yeah it will be a bit of a slash fic, seeing as how all the men will think she is a he and other STUFF. Hahaha I won't tell you what that stuff is.

I've only sent he movie once so some of the scenes will be wrong.

Oh yeah! Is the name ok? Aretha?? Now I have to think of a male's name! URG! J/K

I slid back down in my corner. My tale was a long one, too long to endure while standing. Smiling wryly I gestured for Helen to seat herself. Awkwardly she knelt on the straw covered floor.

"Like you, I come from Sparta," I began, closing my eyes. The memories of Sparta had been like a merciful drug for me during the past twelve days, helping me rise above the pain. "It had been three years after my marriage with my husband when you ran off with Paris. He was hardly ever home, and I ran our large estate. But that's not a part of my story, or at least not a part which I wish to share." I was never good at story telling, so I decided to tell it plain and simple. "I was quite surprised that I could smuggled myself aboard one of the war ships sailing from Sparta. I had stolen my father's old armor. . ."

- - - - - - - - - -

I was not a stranger to having a sword sheathed at my side, or a heavy shield on my back. I had practiced warfare with many of the guards and with male friends in the past. While they thought it was a waste of my time, I was dreaming about this day.

My black hair was cut to my shoulders and plaited. I praised the gods for giving me broader shoulders than normal women, for although they weren't hardly as broad as the men's, I had a large chance of passing unnoticed.

As I sat rowing the large ship, my muscles hurting and rippling under my father's old armor, I tolerated the other men as they mocked me for my size, misjudging me as a brash youthful male instead of an accomplished woman. I didn't dare speak, too afraid that my voice might be too soft, but in my mind I was giving out insults to each man who laughed around me.

Also there was talk about the old fashion of my armor, another thing I chose to ignore. I had to bite my bottom lip in order not to reply, giving my secret away. My father had died before I was born, and I'll admit that his armor was old and his blade had lain unused for centuries, but this was all I could get my hands on. Even disguised as a man I couldn't go into the streets and purchase armor and a sword. I am not that arrogant as to delude myself into thinking that I am the master of disguise, I am not and I had to be careful.

I smiled to myself as I listened to them talk about my old armor. In Sparta I had to endure women gossiping and criticizing other women for having poor fashion. Now I was in a war-ship and I still needed to hear it. Still women and men were different, every much so, and I think I enjoyed the company of men more. At least with men they tell you their insults to your face, not with women who snicker behind each other's backs.

The shifts of rowers changed thankfully and I stood up, my legs burning and tight. Behind my helmet no one could see my discomfort. Perhaps if someone were staring into my hazel-gray eyes, maybe then they would see it. Wisely, I had my head bowed, my eyes cast down.

I marveled at the many fleets of ships. A young man walked up to me from the side and leaned on the ledge of the ship and sighed dreamingly. "They say Achilles is in that ship there," he pointed to the ship towards the front line. I looked in the direction, but I didn't reply. This young man was not going to find a war companion in me. "He's half-god you know," he continued. I narrowed my eyes at the ship that Achilles sailed, wondering whether the gossip was true.

I couldn't wait until I met the man. To know that I would be fighting beside him against our common enemy made my skin tingle. When he saw me I wouldn't be a silent woman to him, but a strong warrior, he would actually see me.

Eventually the young soldier understood that I was not a talkative boy as he was and left. The men aboard continued to rotate from rowing as the captain's and higher officials talked amongst themselves. I kept looking at them, sometimes I didn't even notice I was staring at the officials.

"There's no use, boy," the man sitting across from me grinned. "We won't be hearing their plans until we are called to fight, because that is what we do. We fight."

If people continued to speak to me and I continued to ignore them, I was bound to start something. I knew I had to be careful of other's pride. This war proved to all that a hurt pride called for violence. "I understand that," I told him quietly, so not to sound my voice too strongly.

"Most young men like yourself never fully except that truth," the man sitting next to the first man laughed. "Not sure whether you speak out of pride or of real comprehension."

"I plan on saving my hurt pride for the battlefield, where I can wage my revenge," I couldn't help but grin slightly. The two men were amused. They continued the conversation, but thankfully the two men mostly conversed, forgetting at me for the time.

"Halt!" the officials commanded once Troy was in sight. I wasn't rowing at the time and I was one of the first onboard to see the sandy shores of Troy. My heart leaped for joy as I awaited the commanders' directions. Gripping onto my sword I anticipated the call to war.

"We will wait here until further order, men!" they told them and turned away again. My hopes almost dropped completely, but they were lifted once again when I saw a long line of Trojan warriors line the sand dunes further up the beach. It wasn't all their army, obviously, but there was no doubt in my heart that Hector accompanied them.

I looked back at my commanders, shocked for what I had just thought of. Are we afraid of them? I asked myself, slowly growing angry at our coward behavior. Agamemnon was holding us back because we were afraid of the mighty Hector? I didn't believe the king would be scheming something grander, I knew him well enough to have no faith in his ability to scheme worldly schemes.

Something caught my attention at the corner of my eyes. One of the ships was continuing forward. I shielded my eyes from the sun to get a better look and laughed aloud when I realized that it was the ship of the Myrmidons. I was happy to see that at least one man was not taking the orders of the foolish king. I knew it was Achilles and it only made me laugh even more, but I controlled my laughter.

That is how one becomes the most skilled fighter in all of Greece; you fight without order

It had seemed that Agamemnon finally decided it was time to reach shore. The fight in Apollo's temple was still happening, only just barely. Our ship was one of the last to land, and by then the fight was over. I watched enviously as Achilles and his men cheered from atop the steps of the temple.

I was order to retrieve the remaining spoils of the temple. Achilles was still standing at the entrance of the temple, his sword in hand, with a satisfied grin. Again I found myself staring without noticing it, but Achilles noticed. "Agamemnon sent you to clean up, did he?" he sneered. I lowered my eyes respectfully. The words were caught in my throat, even though I never remembered thinking of speaking. I was so close to a legend. "Tell me he can fill his greed with Apollo's gifts."

"Yes sir," I said, my voice course and low. I cleared my throat. Achilles laughed again.

"How are you suppose to defeat the enemies if you fear your own allies?"

He left before I could make a fool out of myself again. I quickly dashed into the temple. Achilles' men were leaving, laughing and conversing, with bundles of treasure under their arms. As I passed them one of the men stopped me, grinning disgustingly; "There's a real nice treat in there. If I didn't have a wife back home I would take it myself, but I don't want to be selfish, good boy."

Before I turned the corner inside of the temple I knew already what the 'treat' was. Curled up, whimpering in fear was a priestess of Apollo. I stood there, confused by what I was meant to do. She looked to be from royalty and when she saw me she glared at me with such fire that I was reminded of myself. "Keep away from me, murderer!" she accused me. I felt that I should tell her that I was watching from the ships during the whole ordeal, but I was silent. It would do nothing, wouldn't even satisfy her raging emotions. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet, she struggled but I was the stronger woman.

"Don't fight, priestess. Even if you do free yourself, there are men outside who will catch you," I growled and pushed her to the exit. "I assure you that they will treat you even worse than I am."

"The Gods will have their revenge on you, fool! You have defiled the temple of a god," she warned me. I rolled my eyes. The gods; how everyone feared them. It was Achilles who defiled the temple, and he was the most blessed among the Greek. I had broken the codes that set the life of women, yet I was still walking and breathing. I even had a captive in my possession, even though I didn't really want her. What use was a woman to me?

Once I came to our camps I went directly to my commanders with the priestess, eager to lose her. "Keep her for the time being, boy," they told me without even looking up from their maps. "I will send someone with a notice to Agamemnon concerning her."

I sighed angrily as I tied her to a post. I had to set up my tent before dealing with her. The other men around us grinned at her and touched her when they thought I wasn't looking. Filthy worms, I thought as I turned around. They removed their hands quickly. I untied her and led her into my tent roughly.

The men cheered when they saw me push her to the floor of the tent. I rolled my eyes and closed the flaps of the tent. "Just be quiet," I told her as I tied her ankles. I was wasting rope on her, and I was hoping Agamemnon would send for her quickly.

I stood up and continued to unpack my small supply of belongings. I hadn't packed much with me. Only a few tunics and bandages in case I was injured. I knew I wouldn't be able to have the army bandage me, for they were bound to find out my secret then.

She was silent, but I could still feel the anger from her and the hateful glare at the back of my head. I took my belt off and was about to take my armor off when I realized what that would cause. I looked back at the priestess. Her eyes had changed, they were wondering now, thinking.

"What is your name?" I asked her quickly, afraid that she had caught onto my disguise. Thankfully her glare turned hostile again, but she remained silent.

"You're young for war," she snapped. Hopefully that was the only thing she noticed.

I had to think of something to say that would make me sound like a man, and quickly. "You're. . . beautiful for Apollo's priestess," I commented, ashamed that my voice quivered. She searched my eyes for a moment before I looked away from her. I prayed a messenger would be arriving any moment now to get her.

"I don't think you're interested in beauty, soldier," she said coldly. She was right.

"You're right," I said sharply. "I'm not interested in you. I have everything that a woman could offer." I laughed shortly at the irony of what I had just said.

"So you are married?" she questioned. Again she was right, but she didn't need to know that my husband was on the campsite with us, that he had sailed on another ship. I simply nodded. "So you abandoned your own family so that you could terrorize another family?"

I remained still. I was beginning to grow angry with her. I did not simply come from Greece to terrorize. I came for honor and respect, I came because I wasn't going to allow Greece to be shamed any longer. She believed I would kill needlessly, but she didn't know that I would only kill those who would bring Greece honor. Killing her would be a waste, and I wouldn't touch her either for that was pointless as well. I'm sure that if someone else had found her, a man, she would have been touched many times, yet she wasn't giving me thanks, she was criticizing me.

"It would be easier to believe that wouldn't it, priestess?" I retorted, turning to her. She drew back, maybe she realize the fire in my eyes. "It always is easier to believe in evil than it is to believe in good." I wondered what her reaction would be if she discovered I was a woman, would she pity me or would she label me as even a greater evil.

"Do you believe that you are good?" she asked calmly. She obviously did not believe that I could be good.

"What does it matter? To you and to Troy I shall always be the enemy."

"You're wiser than most soldiers I have met," she admitted. "Perhaps you are good, but I'll never see it."

"No, you won't," I agreed. I took a seat across from her, careful to keep my legs crossed. I pulled my helmet off. I was impatient for her to be sent away. Although I would miss her cold company, but I think it would be safer for her to go. Not safer for her, but for me.

"Am I to be your captive?" she asked after a while. She had been staring at me and I feared the look in her blue eyes. I knew the look; she was beginning to like me, or at least coming to peace with me.

"Hopefully not," I said bluntly. I regretted my comment on her beauty, for I knew she had taken flattery from it and she seemed to be expecting more companionship from me. Most likely the war had caused this. I didn't doubt that if I had brought her to my tent before she was attacked, she wouldn't like me. She was shaken by the war, by the death of her brethren and she found stability in me. I know women, I warned myself.

"So you'd rather give me to those hogs out there," she nodded outside of the tent, bitter at me again. I didn't answer. I couldn't lie to her. I didn't want the other soldiers hurting, for she was nothing to the war effort. It was disgraceful in my opinion to take women from the enemies like that. Men who kept weapons away from women, just so that they can better take advantage of them.

But I knew I could not control what would come. "Not all men will hurt you," I told her softly, my eyes cast downwards. "No matter what you'll be with the enemy," I reminded her. "You'll see evil wherever you look."

"But I'm beginning to see goodness in you!" she said quickly. I was shocked that she would say that, so soon to from the point when she called me evil. Before I could respond the flaps of my tent were pulled open.

"Agamemnon requests that the captive be given to Achilles," the commander ordered. I suppose the commander had been expecting to walk in on something more distasteful, so he looked surprise to see me still in my armor. He nodded in farewell and left. I looked to the priestess.

"I've heard tales about Achilles," she whispered, with her head lowered. "He's a killer."

"He's a man of honor," I corrected. I got up and gently pulled her up. I could tell she was purposely trying to make herself heavier, but I was strong enough to lift her, thankful to the fact that she was so small.

Once she was on her feet I bent down to untie her ankles. When I stood up again she leaned towards me and pressed her lips against mine. I could taste the dry blood and grains of sand after she pulled away, looking at me with pleading eyes; "Please don't give me away."

I gave the second kiss. The only thought racing through my head was Thank you. Thank you. She was in love with me, for that moment she was completely dependant on me. I was her potential savior, I was the person who could keep her safe and alive. I was the only man in her life, or so she thought, and she had confidence in me.

Slowly I pulled away from her, my mind spinning with doubt and fear. I had made everything worse for her, because once I walked her out of this tent her hope and heart would shatter. "I can not keep you," I told her. If only she knew that the order from the commander wasn't the only thing that kept me from saving her. I was a woman, and I could not trust her with that secret. I could trust no one with that secret.

"I understand," she said. I knew she did, but I still felt as if I had betrayed her. I felt as if I had betrayed something bigger than this priestess's dependence.

As I led her outside I began to think about the war, about why I was there. It was not because I expected to return with glory. I had a strong sense that this land would be my doom, this war would lead to my downfall. Helen, the foolish queen came to my mind, the name coated in hate. Curse you Helen.

------------------------------

"Did you loved her?" Helen asked. Her voice sounded disappointed, amusingly so. I opened my eyes and looked at her. She was sitting against the stonewall now, she had discovered that sitting on her knees wouldn't be wise. I could understand why she was asking me this, I was smiling during my tale.

"I loved her," I nodded, although I wasn't completely sure if I completely loved her. Briseis. "I was fond of her, yes, because at times she reminded me of me. Other times I despised her, because she wasn't me." I sighed, confused with what I was saying. I had never really stopped and wondered why I loved the priestess of Apollo, but as I spoke about her it would seem that I had been thinking about it for centuries. "I suppose I love those who understand me," I looked up at Helen. She understood what I meant, I could tell by her eyes that sparkled in the fading light from outside. I closed my eyes again and remembered. . . .
A/N Ok it might seem that her emotions change A LOT (love-hate, hate-love) but that's who she is. I don't want to explain her character, I want it to show in later chapters, and don't worry she will have another name, a guy's name of course. I just need to find it.

Sorry if this chapter seems boring, which it is. The next ones will be more entertaining.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

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