A Change In Action

By ChrissyKat

Disclaimer: Well, that last chapter was the start of the craziness. I hope you enjoyed it immensely. This ones going to be even better at least I hope you will think so. By the end I'm hoping you'll all be like 'What the heck just happened?' Anyway as usual I don't own these characters; they belong to Homer's Iliad, History and the movie. Read and Review as always.

Chapter 3: Twisted of Mind, Turn of the Blade

Calm peaceful beach; now covered in the blood of many. It had become anything but peaceful after that morning. The Achaean fleet had arrived upon the Trojan shore, afternoon had brought a bustling of activity as the men built up their defenses, defenses that they were assured would help them in their defeat of one of the greatest cities and the retrieval of the fair Helen of Sparta.

In the distance one could see the sacked Temple of Apollo. Achilles eyes squinted in the sun as he peered at it momentarily then shifted away. He trudged his way across the warm sand, his long cape dragging behind him. A stride to his step showed his authority among the men and if they failed to recognize it, the sword strapped to his shoulder would certainly give them that message when it sliced into their flesh.

His mind drifted to the recent encounter with his tempestuous captive. A riddle of a girl his men had found him. She was naïve yet brazen all at the same time. Briseis of Troy may have lived a sheltered life especially when compared to his own but she seemed to be capable of great intellect, boldness in the face of adversity and an equal to his own fiery spirit. Ah yes she was a great mystery to be unraveled; Achilles was determined to be the one to solve her mystery. As soon as I am done dealing with the King of Bores that is. His destination lie ahead of him in the form of the largest of the boats docked on the soft sand.

Letting his mind refocus on the task at hand, he stepped up the rampart to the entrance of the massive housing where the contemptible ruler was no doubt celebrating his armies' victory. A victory earned only with the aid of me and my men Achilles grumbled to himself as he stepped inside.

The other Kings and Leaders had exited and Agamemnon now regarded the proud Pythian that stood before him with self-satisfied delight. Today will be the day I see the impudent Achilles pledge his allegiance to me. His mind had formulated the perfect plant to achieve such a goal; a goal that would bring the once impertinent man low before him.

There were two audacious men, staring each other down. A battle between Greece's King and the armies' deadliest combatant that seemed would never end. Achilles unwavering eyes observed the man who sat proudly on his seat of power; he was not impressed with the many vows the oh so pompous one had just made to Greece's Leaders and he was going to make sure that Agamemnon knew it.

Achilles cape swished behind him and as he began moving to his left breaking the silence that had descended on the room, "Apparently you won some great victory."

Agamemnon smiled "Ah perhaps you didn't notice. The Trojan beach belonged to Priam in the morning. It belongs to Agamemnon in the afternoon."

Keeping his composure, Achilles continued his pacing, back and forth he went as he spoke, "You can have the beach I didn't come here for sand."

"No, you came here because you want your name to last through the ages." Sitting forward slightly in his chair, he was going to put Achilles in his place once and for all.

"A great victory was won today, but that victory was not yours. Kings did not kneel to Achilles; Kings did not pay homage to Achilles." Agamemnon's voice rose as he spoke.

If he thinks he can intimidate me then he knows nothing about me. Achilles was no where near threatened simply replying "Perhaps the Kings were to far back to see…the soldiers won the battle."

Frustrated beyond belief Agamemnon stood from his chair as his voice rang out loudly, "HISTORY REMEMBERS KINGS, NOT SOLDIERS!" Moving ever closer to defiant guest, "Tomorrow we'll batter down the gates of Troy; I'll build monuments of victory on every island of Greece. I'll carve Agamemnon in the stone." Gritting out every word as he voiced them, his patience was beginning to reach its breaking point.

"Be careful King of Kings, first you need the victory." Achilles face, that had held mocking now changed to utter seriousness. He knew it would only spur more anger and that made it all the better.

Enough of this, you're a fool boy if you think you can best me. "Your men sacked the Temple of Apollo, yes?" Closer he moved, his robes brushing the floor as he went.

Unconcerned Achilles replied, "You want gold? Take it; it's my gift to honor your courage. Take what you wish."

"I already have." With that royal robes swished by and two of the royal guard of Agamemnon were called. "Aphareus, Haemon"

Swaggering boastful fiend was Achilles last rational thought. His eyes then beheld what the guards were dragging in. It was an instant reaction, one Agamemnon was sure to be pleased with.

"Spoils of war" Agamemnon replied as his two brutes dragged in the unconscious form of Briseis. They had knocked her out with only a small struggle one her part then pulled her limp body across the encampment. Taking note of Achilles reaction to the girls beaten form the King of Kings claimed his victory. Now he will know who the true leader is here.

If one listened closely you could almost hear something inside Achilles snap. Never had such a rage swept over him as it had upon seeing what had been done to the beautiful girl that only moments ago had been safe in his tent. Achilles blood boiled over; Agamemnon was going to pay as were his men. "I've no argument with you brothers but if you don't release her you'll never see home again, decide."

"GUARDS!" Agamemnon cried and 10 more of the illustrious royal guard burst forth surrounding the lone Pythian. With Agamemnon's shout for his men, Achilles had drawn his sword, the sound of the blade coming out of it's sheathe startled several of the soldiers but they held their ground. Tension in the room began its steady rise as the fearless Achilles was caught in a face off with the Grecian Royal Guard.

"Such a pretty thing to have been gifted to you mighty Achilles; did you think I would not find out about her?" A slimy hand lifted Briseis head and inwardly Achilles winced. Her eyebrow was deeply cut a line of blood from it ran down her face. Another ran from bridge of her nose. Briseis's left cheek appeared to be bruised quite badly. Brown locks were left to droop down once more when Agamemnon pulled his hand away roughly.

Seething hatred filled him and he readied himself for battle. If there was one mans corpse that he longed to look upon and smile at, it would most definitely be the greedy man before him.

He addressed the two guards that held Briseis tightly "Remove your hands from her…" he paused as he turned his gaze to Agamemnon pointing his sword towards him " or you and your men will not live to batter down the gates of the city you so long to take, you sack of wine. Do not trick yourself into thinking they will save your miserable hide."

Agamemnon laughed loudly, "Oh I certainly know that much. However they can kill the slave girl here quite EASILY." He yanked her head up again, a moan of pain sounding from her lips even in her unconsciousness. Must have knocker her quite hard he guessed looking from her battered face to that of Achilles. A little help of his two guards and she was pulled closer to her former captor. "Don't be a fool…boy."

Achilles lowered his sword, what's wrong with me? Why do I care if he kills her? I never cared for any woman before, why does she matter to me? His mind raced with questioning and he tried to rationalize it all. Why should you not, she was given to you as your prize of victory and this loathsome man dares to steal her from you. Yes that's why he will suffer, that's why they'll all suffer.

A sense of triumph overcame Agamemnon as he watched the conflict in Achilles face. The warriors' sword dropped ever so slowly and once again the King claimed the victory.

Turning his back he looked at the young woman before him, a treasure to be sure. He lifted a lock of her hair "The mighty Achilles, silenced by the mere presence of this pitiful girl. Tonight I'll have her give me a bath and then…who knows." Upon finishing his taunting he dropped her hair and turned back to Achilles. It was then that he suddenly realized that he had made a grave mistake.

Achilles sword was no longer raised nor had he lowered it completely as Agamemnon had thought. Oh he had lowered it but it seemed that he had quickly raised it once more; a quick turn of the blade and it was now imbedded in the great Kings flesh; right in his gut.

And that's when all hell broke loose.

Tbc

If that isn't a cliffhanger I don't know what is. Are you saying yet 'What the heck just happened?' then yes I have succeeded. Glad you've stuck with me thus far. After this chapter I have to do a bit of mapping and decide what the heck I plan to do next. And yes I know I took out Briseis great little speech but this is a what if scenario and the what if is what if she hadn't made that little speech or had been unable to. Lmao Again please read and review as always.