Chapter 3: Finding an Army
Deidameia/Vietnam: the princess of Scyros, Lycomedes' daughter
Lycomedes: the king of Scyros
Priam/Germania: the king of Troy, father of Paris and Hector among others
King Peleus's Palace in Thessaly, Greece
Now that they were back in the castle, it was like they never left.
Achilles stretched and yawned. "Feels like just yesterday we ditched this place."
Patroclus smiled sleepily from across the room. "Well we're leaving tomorrow anyway."
"You don't have to remind me! I'm so excited I can't even sleep." Achilles grinned ear to ear. "What do you think it'll be like being in the army?"
Patroclus sighed, his eyes already closed. "I dunno. Scary, I guess."
"Scary? Nothing's scary for me!" Achilles laughed boisterously. "But if you get scared Pat, I'll protect you. A hero doesn't let his best friend get hurt! I mean, what would I be if I didn't take care of others? Not a hero at all! Never fear, Patroclus, I promise that I—"
"Achilles."
"Yeah?"
"Go to sleep."
He pouted. "You're no fun. All right, good night." He waited a few moments for Patroclus to respond, but he must have already dozed off. Achilles smiled slowly and lay down on his own bed, but he wasn't tired in the least. For a few hours he just lay there, staring at the walls and the moonlight and Patroclus's face.
Achilles sighed and shut his eyes. 'Okay, just don't think about anything and take deep breaths. Or maybe counting will help. But why sheep? I'd rather count something else. Something like—' The smell hit him first. It was salty, like the sea. Achilles opened his eyes and sat up quickly, but a cold hand was pressed against his lips before he could even draw a breath. He felt himself being dragged out the window, and in no time at all the demigod was racing across the landscape faster than any human could go. Looking up, Achilles saw his mother's face above him, cold and determined. He pried off her hand.
"Mom, where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere safe."
"What? What do you mean? Patroclus is still back there."
"You don't need him."
"Yes I do! Yes I do!"
The nymph frowned and clapped her hand back over her son's mouth. "I'm sorry Achilles, but you're never going to see him again. King Lycomedes has a beautiful daughter; why don't you look at her instead? Okay? You'll thank me someday." They reached their destination, and she released him.
Achilles just gaped mutely. 'Never see him again? Never, never...'
Behind them, there came the sound of footsteps.
"Is this your son, my lady?"
"Yes, this is him. Achilles, greet Princess Deidameia."
Achilles turned numbly and saw a girl there, about his age. Some part of his shocked mind registered that she was very beautiful, but her long black hair lashing in the wind and hard brown eyes were far from what he wanted to see at that moment.
Thetis spoke tersely. "Princess, look after my child. You have to disguise him so the army recruiters don't find him."
"Understood."
"Good. Achilles? Son?" Achilles didn't answer her, and eventually he heard the sound of his mother splashing back into the sea. Princess Deidameia stepped forward and took his hand.
"Prince Achilles. I've heard much about you and your prowess on the battlefield. It's a shame that you can't join the war, but your mother assured me that there are good reasons for that. In the meantime, I think you'll enjoy your time here." She hesitated and a look of distaste flickered across her face. "Your mother also said...that I should keep you company."
"What are you doing?" She was very close. Suddenly her arms were around his neck.
"I don't like it any more than you do. But I can't disobey a goddess, can I?" She kissed him.
King Peleus's Palace in Thessaly, Greece
Patroclus almost screamed himself hoarse calling for his best friend that day. In his mind, he vowed that he would make Achilles pay for that if he ever found him.
'Where could he be? There's no way he chickened out of joining the army. He was so excited.' Patroclus sighed and thought of who there was left to ask. There was only one person, really.
"King Peleus, thank you for speaking with me."
"N' problem for m'son's favorite."
Patroclus was touched by the compliment. "Actually, Achilles is who I wanted to talk to you about. I can't find him anywhere, and the delegation for the war is leaving soon. Do you know where he is?"
"...Yes."
"Please, can you tell me?"
King Peleus looked down sternly, seemingly lost in thought. Patroclus's palms were sweaty when the king suddenly spoke. "What was m'son to you, Patr'clus?"
"Huh?" The question caught him off guard. Patroclus fidgeted and stuttered a little, trying to think of the right answer. What was Achilles to him? Well of course, it wasn't a hard question. "He was my best friend. He, uh...accepted my past. And he made me feel needed. And I think he's the most important person...to me."
The king nodded, as if he already expected this answer. "Then d'you know what he's destined t' do? Kill people. Will y'care for him then?"
Patroclus closed his eyes and thought of the boy he knew, smiling with his blunted practice sword. He wouldn't hurt anyone, but it was his destiny. "Yes. I'll care for him no matter what he does."
The king laughed softly, and Patroclus's eyes flew open in shock. Peleus was actually smiling. "Scyr's. With Lyc'medes. Thetis t'ld me she took h'm yesterday."
'Scyros.' He could sail there. "Thank you. Thank you so much." Patroclus stood quickly and started to leave. He was halfway to the door when he realized just how lonely the king must be. Of course. He had just lost his son too. Patroclus stopped and turned. "Are you all right, King Peleus?"
The old king looked at Patroclus sadly and simply said, "I w'ld've spent m'whole life m'king it up t' her. I loved her. B't she wouldn't f'rgive me for someth'ng I was forced t' do. Always f'rgive m'son, Patr'clus. He's a good boy."
The words rang in his mind through the whole boat ride to Scyros.
King Priam's Palace in Troy
"You are a fool, Paris. A complete and utter fool! I knew I should've killed you. I knew that you'd be trouble. Now because of your lust I have to defend against an army that is surely coming."
Hector noted that his brother's handsome face didn't even flinch as their father rained criticisms down on him. Instead, the banished prince simply said, "But you will defend against the army. And let me and Helen stay."
King Priam's sharp blue eyes flashed and his head whipped around so fast that his long hair fanned out behind him. "Yes I will. But not because of you. If I could, I would just send the girl back and be done with it. But that would dishonor my name and my kingdom, so I will send my troops to fight and die for your mistake. I hope you're happy."
"Ecstatic."
"Get out of my sight."
Paris bowed mockingly and left. Hector quickly excused himself and went after him.
"Paris. Wait."
"What do you want, Prince Hector?"
"I think you should consider sending Helen back peacefully. We don't need a war right now."
Paris turned and glared, his nonchalant mask dropped. "Why should I? What do I care for this kingdom, huh?"
Hector hesitantly reached out to him. "Bruder—"
"Don't call me brother! Priam sent me to live on that horrible mountain tending sheep while you lived a real prince's life!" Paris took a step back. "I don't care if people die; I'm getting what I want!"
Hector shook his head. "But mother's dream said that you would ruin this country. Our father was doing what was best for everyone. There was no choice."
"There is always a choice." Paris shook his head, disgusted. "But I suppose you wouldn't understand. Everyone loves you, right? You're a prince, a hero, and that old man's spitting image."
Hector growled and let his hand drop. "Don't be so self-centered. What's worth more? The lives of everyone in this city, or one person?"
"That one person was me!"
"You should've been grateful to be alive!" Paris flinched visibly, but Hector didn't stop. "Everyone thought Father should kill you. But he couldn't do it. That herdsman who took you in was called instead, but clearly he couldn't do it either. When you think of how lucky you were—"
"What? De quoi parles-tu?" Paris flushed. "Being kicked out for something that wasn't my fault isn't lucky!" He took a step forward, to what purpose Hector didn't know. Surely he couldn't think he could do any physical damage. But at that moment a bright flash of light came in through the window and blinded Paris before he could do anything at all. He staggered back and blinked rapidly to clear his vision while Hector sent a confused look at the window behind him. When he looked back, Paris had already run away.
Hector shoook his head. "What was that?" He turned and looked outside. And he thought he saw, just for a moment, a smiling brown-haired youth with an errant curl sticking out the left side of his head.
Scyros, Greece
When Achilles saw Patroclus again, he thought he had finally gone crazy from grief. Thetis had said that he'd never see him again, but there he was in the flesh. It kind of ruined their reunion that the world's greatest hero was in a dress, but Achilles was so happy to see his old friend that he almost forgot to be embarrassed. Almost.
"Stop laughing, Pat."
He nodded rapidly and tried to, but to no avail. Achilles glared. "Seriously, we're not supposed to be out here."
"I know. I'm sorry. It's just...you look really funny. Why are you cross-dressing?"
Achilles picked at his girly clothes disdainfully. "My mom didn't want me to join the war. She took me here and told me to pretend to be a lady-in-waiting so the army recruiters won't find me." He groaned. "They call me Pyrrha. Such a girl's name."
Patroclus frowned. "Your mom didn't want you to go? But she seemed excited about the war before."
"I know. Something made her change her mind, I guess. Anyway, how did you get here? How did you find me?"
"Your father told me where you are, and I hitched a ride down. I missed you."
Achilles smiled and took his friend's hands. "I missed you t—"
"There you are. I thought I'd find you out here."
The two turned to see Princess Deidameia approaching. Her long black ponytail streamed in the wind behind her, making her look as intimidating as always. She grabbed Achilles' hands, forcing him to release Patroclus. "Achilles. Do you know this boy?"
"Achilles?" Patroclus looked surprised. "You know that he's a man?"
"Of course I do. I've slept with him."
Patroclus inhaled sharply and stiffened. Achilles frowned at him, concerned. "Pat. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just. I just...guess I should leave you two alone." He mumbled an apology and took off.
Achilles shook Deidameia off. "Wait! Patroclus!"
"Where do you think you're going?" The princess grabbed at him, glaring. "Your responsibility is to me. We are married."
"What are you talking about? You don't even like me, and we never got married. I'm going after Patroclus, and then I'll leave with him."
"You can't leave now!" A note of desperation crept into her voice. "I'm pregnant."
Achilles froze. He turned back to stare at her. "Really?"
"Yes." She held her stomach, looking strangely fragile. "Yes."
"...I'm sorry about that." Then Achilles turned and ran from her. He easily caught up with Patroclus and hugged him from behind. "Pat. Why are you so upset? What's the matter?"
Patroclus was trembling. He shook his head. "Nothing's the matter. I guess I was just surprised."
"You're not just surprised. Are you upset because I had sex with her? Because I didn't really want to. It was my mom; she was the one—"
"Your mom? That's odd, considering how she's honoring chastity."
Achilles cringed. "It's the truth! You know how hypocritical gods are. I guess she was more worried about me being lonely than she was about anything else. It's terrible, I know. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me." Patroclus sighed. "If anything, I should feel bad for you. Your mom forced you to be with the princess?"
"Well...she forced her to be with me, technically."
"What? And you just let that happen?" Patroclus struggled against Achilles' grip, but to no effect. "That's horrible! Why didn't you just tell her she could stop?"
Achilles held on tighter. "What? No, I did! Well...I mean...technically I didn't. But I wasn't in my right mind! And I'll never have sex with anyone ever again if you don't want me to, I promise. This time was just because I missed you. I thought I'd never see you again."
Patroclus groaned. "Why do you keep bringing me into this? It's not like I have anything to do with it. It's none of my business."
"It's totally your business." Achilles released Patroclus and turned him around so he could face him. "I asked you to promise to stay with me forever, Pat. Because you're the only person who I want to be around all the time. And I, y'know, I..."
Patroclus had started smiling slowly, and he looked kind of surreal in the moonlight. Achilles suddenly realized just how close he had come to never seeing that face again, and he was seized with fear. He'd never let them get separated again. If he could have Patroclus then he'd never need anything else; he was the only one he wanted. He had to show it.
So he kissed him.
Author's Notes: Lots of fact checking this time. First of all, Paris was happily welcomed back by his family because they all forgot why he was banished in the first place. Seriously, they forgot. Well I thought that was unrealistic, and having it this way gives his character more depth. Second of all, no one coerced Deidameia or Achilles to have sex (but you guessed that already, didn't you?) It was just so out of character for Vietnam and counter to Achilles' relationship with Patroclus, so I made some adjustments. Hope that isn't too off-putting for anyone.
Translations:
Bruder (German): brother
De quois parles-tu (French): what are you talking about
