Title: Enemy from Within
Chapter 9 – Celebration & Commemoration

"Achilles!" Briseis called out as she rushed to his side as he slowly slumped against the stone wall.

"Get them removed at once," Priam ordered the men who had rushed into the room.

Patras looked at Hector and let out a huff. "The city is once again secure my Lord," he said with a smile.

"Who did you leave in charge?"

"A very trustworthy man," Patras smiled in return. "One who I believe will make a fine addition to your army," he finished, referring to Krystos.

"See it's done, General," Hector stated proudly. "You have earned it my friend. It's what Dionysus would have wanted."

"Then I am honored," Patras accepted and turned to leave. He rushed down the stairs and met up with Andreas, Krystos and Evangelos.

"Is it done then?" Evangelos questioned. "Has Achilles avenged our beloved?"

"He has my lord," Patras replied. "You are welcome in Troy. Stay for the celebrations."

"My men and I would be honored," Evangelos answered.

"I owe you a debt of gratitude," Hector said walking up to Achilles, Paris beside him.

"As do I," Paris smiled.

"Great Prince I'm sure you would have done the same with my absence. Although I am grateful that I was able to avenge those from my past; those that fell to his evil."

"As am I," Hector lightly sighed. "Please stay in Troy as long as you want. The medicine quarters are at your disposal," Hector stated as he held out his hand to Achilles. "A new friend?"

"A new ally," Achilles agreed as he took Hectors hand in his and shook it firmly. "I think I'll take you up on your offer. I know my servant and friends would like to rest in a hospitable city such as this one."

"I'll help him," Briseis offered in a somewhat timid voice. She lightly pushed past her cousin and helped Achilles to slightly limp over to the medicine quarters and waited while he was tended to.

Hector looked over at Paris and frowned. "We won brother, why the downcast face?"

"I failed you," Paris wailed. "I let myself be taken by the enemy. And although the outcome was in our favor I was still the cause of distraction."

"Paris you are young and have much to learn. This is one mistake you won't make again. As long as you live to fight another day the battle has been a good one. We must all learn."

"I guess," Paris sighed heavily as he looked at Helen before lightly shaking his head in remorse. "I feel I failed you too," he mentioned as he walked up to her; letting his brother tend to his wife.

"You didn't fail me," Helen smiled. "I still love you."

Andromache walked up to Hector and carefully examined his previous wound. "I am very thankful this is all over and Dionysus was avenged like you promised."

"I could offer him no less," Hector stated firmly. "He would have done the same for me. I only wish we had caught it before it all happened. Do I mistrust every foreigner that comes to live with us?"

"You trusted Achilles when you needed to," Andromache reminded him. "Your heart is wise Hector," she smiled. "It will not fail you when it need it most. I do believe that."

"It tells me I have married the best woman every created," Hector praised as he pulled her close and held her firmly against his strong chest. "Come and let us away and have some private time for I am tired of this commotion."

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Briseis studied Achilles as he was being tended to.

"What?" He asked softly.

"You…coming to warn us…I had you imagined wrong," she replied in a soft, tormented tone.

Achilles thanked the doctor and looked up at her. "Let us have some private time together."

Briseis opened the door back into the main chamber and noticed it was empty. "Let us sit by the window for a while."

They slowly walked over to the window and sat down. The city people below were busily cleaning the city of the mess from the previous battle and were preparing for the mourning celebration and the ensuing festival.

"I didn't think you capable of compassion," Briseis commented softly. "Sorry."

"It's a self proclaimed title I suppose," Achilles replied in kind. "One that keeps my enemies guessing."

"Does it keep you alone?" Briseis dared to ask.

"It used to," Achilles smiled back.

Briseis looked up quickly and found herself slightly blushing. Her insides were a torrid mix of emotions. One part of her was yelling to remind herself of her vows she would shortly take. The other part of her was shouting just as loud to listen to her heart and start living her life the way she really wanted.

"What keeps you alone? For you have no man rushing to see if you are okay after all this."

"I…" she started and then looked away. She wanted to tell him but if she did she'd fear he'd be a man of honor and walk out of her life telling her to continue with her vow of virtue.

"I haven't found the other half of my soul," she answered in half truth, looking at him with a faraway glance. "I know you avenged yours."

She looked back at Achilles with eyes filled with sorrow. "I am sorry."

"While part of my soul will grieve properly now for Chara, that future for me is dead…the future that…"

"I can't be with a man who has war as his future," Briseis blurted out.

Achilles looked at her and smiled. "Would you settle for a man who has fallen in love with you?"

Briseis looked up in shock. "Love?" She dared to ask. "Is it possible?"

"Anything is possible," he smiled as he took her hand in his.

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Hector smiled as he took one last look at the preparations and then headed for his men. He talked briefly with Patras, commended Krystos for his bravery and told Andreas to stay with his men as long as we wanted; Achilles was detained elsewhere but alive and well.

Andreas and Krystos were sharing a brew and trading stories of their masters and their new found battle experience.

Achilles and Briseis had already nested themselves into one of the private royal viewing boxes and were settling in for the night festivities.

Paris and Helen were off somewhere not to be found and although he knew his brother was mostly nursing ego wounds he would be more than ready for the next battle. But as soon as the music started, Hector knew his brother would emerge and the night for them would continue as if nothing wrong had been done.

"I think Dionysus would have liked this," Andromache smiled as she walked up to her Husband as he joined her in the main courtyard. "It's a mourning celebration fit for a Prince."

"He was a prince of Troy," Hector mused with a frown. "I miss him terribly. I know Patras is a good and honorable man; but he'll never replace my old friend."

"He's not meant to Hector," Andromache reminded him. "He's only here to start a new. Like a few others."

"Yes it's amazing the all that has transpired over the past few days…Timus kingdom shattered and it's would be butcher our new ally and the real murderer was a man who slipped past us all."

"But in the end evil didn't win and good triumphed again."

"As it should be," Hector smiled warmly. They reached one of the private seating booths and Hector sat down and pulled his wife's warm body on top of his. He wrapped his strong arms around her and watched in silence as his fallen friend was finally honored.

"Goodbye my friend," he whispered into the night air.

And as the night bore on new friendships were formed; a new love was started; and a new destiny was forged…

THE END!