Author's Note:'Italics'are thoughts."Italics" is a letter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Troy or Greek Mythology. Areia and Enyo belong to Celebwen Telcontar.
True Lineage
Briseis stood on the docks of Cilician Thebe, her eyes searching for any sign of a ship. Melaney – Amaryllis' immortal raven - was upon her shoulder, the Queen's most recent letter was in her hand.
Dearest Briseis, I am sure that Artemis told you the basics of what is happening, but there are some things that she left out, because they are for only you to know. Besides your family members and Hector, Achilles and Patroclus, as well as their fathers, are among those returning souls. I know this information will probably make you more anxious, but you have a right to know. Also, after they return, these people will only have a year's time to live, unless the Gods find it necessary for time to be extended. It sounds bittersweet, but this is where my other plans come to play. You and I, we will be searching for the Cronus Stone, for Nemesis is after it and 'he who holds the stone holds the world'; knowing you, you do not want such power, as I do not either, but by having the stone, you may have or change anything, anything at all. I'm sure you are clever enough to know what I am implying. If we do not succeed in locating the stone, we can always resort to persuading Hades. There is also something else you must know, but I must tell you in person and in secrecy. Look to my coming in three days' time, at noon an Amazonian ship sailing from the South. I shall see you soon. Amaryllis
Briseis sighed as she turned away from the sea and made her way to the beach. Melaney shifted on her shoulder and then took off into the sky. She knew that staring at the water was not going to make Amaryllis arrive any faster. As she walked on the warm sand, her mind traveled, but it did not go far when she heard her name. The noble turned abruptly, her heart leaping into her throat, but she was disappointed to see Captain Lysander trudging through the sand toward her.
"Briseis…" Lysander said again, trying to catch his breath, it seemed that he had been running. "I've been looking for you everywhere."
So that was why he was out of breath. Briseis raised her sculpted brow and asked, "And what is it you need Captain Lysander."
Momentarily the captain was distracted as he took in her appearance. Her supple form was garbed in a mauve chiton, a leather belt fastened on her waist, a few weapons on her hips. On her feet were brown boots, her wrists had bracers on them, and her sword was on her back along with a quiver of arrows and a bow. Her eyes were rimmed with kohl, the fronts of her hair tied back out of her face.
"Lysander?" Her lovely voice broke him of the trance he was in.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "I apologize, Lady Briseis, I was…I, for a moment there I almost mistook you for Artemis, a fair goddess ready to brave the wilderness." She only blinked at his compliment and this made him blush slightly. "I…uh…I was wondering if you had considered my proposal." Briseis visibly stiffen, but Lysander did not see her for he was staring at the ground. "I do not really wish to demand an answer of you, but since you are leaving us shortly I…" He trailed off and shook his head, knowing these words would not be enough. She said nothing, so he looked up and stared into her beautiful eyes. "Briseis, I'm in love with you, I have loved you for so long now, since I first saw you, and I know that I will continue to love you for the rest of our lives and beyond, please will you do me the honor of becoming my wife."
His words were so bold and unwavering, this made Briseis curse herself. She should have told him her answer back in Troy, it would have been less painful, but then again, it was not her who would be hurt. Keeping this in mind, so that she could tell him the truth, she spoke, "No," Lysander's eyes showed agony as he stumbled back in disbelief, he was about to question her, but she continued, "I'm sorry, Lysander, but I don't share the same feelings for you that you have for me."
A little spark of hope made the captain turn to pleading. "You could learn to love me, now that you know how I feel for you, because I know that you were unaware of my thoughts about you." The noble shook her head, pity in her eyes. "I'm in love with another and I have loved him as he has loved me since we first met nearly twelve years ago."
Lysander looked at the sand again. "Why did you not say anything the first time I asked you to marry me?"
"Because you did not give me the chance," she answered immediately, "you asked me and then you quickly left before I could say anything."
He knew that she was right, but he wasn't going to admit that. "Will you at least tell me who this man is?"
"Lysander, nothing-"
"You have already torn my heart," he said defeated, "grant me this one mercy."
Anger flashed into the Lady's eyes, 'How dare he blame me for his pain. Yes, I am the source, but I did not make him love me and I never asked for or want it.'
Briseis breathed deeply to dissipate her fury and answered, "Achilles."
His eyes widened. "Achilles, but…how…why..."
Out of the corner of her eye, Briseis saw a new ship docking, an Amazonian ship. "I don't expect any forgiveness and I owe you nothing, farewell." The noblewoman swiftly ran back to the docks.
Lysander fell to his knees upon the sand. "Curse you Aphrodite, curse you Himeros, what have I done to warrant such anguish and loss. Achilles is a killer, a blasphemous murderer; I am simply a man who fights for his country."
When Briseis arrived at the dock, a smile spread across her face. There, standing by the Amazonian ship, was her fellow Amazon Mistress, Amaryllis. The two women ran towards each other and embraced.
"I have missed you dearly Lady of the White Palace."
"And I you Queen of Athens."
Amaryllis laughed, "Damon and the Athenians are supposed to be waiting for us, but you know how my husband loves a good race; either way, we must make haste."
The sound of horse hooves prevented Briseis from saying anything. When the women turned around, they saw Briseis' brothers, Andromache and Astyanax, Helen, and Areia and Enyo coming to the docks.
"Why don't you wait on the ship," Briseis suggested, "I'll handle everything." Amaryllis just shrugged and climbed back onto the ship, knowing that she would simply be a distraction if she chose to help.
Quickly, Briseis, Melanon, Cariaxis, Balcamen, and Brisantho got the horses, the supplies, and the passengers onto the ship and soon they were at sea.
"Briseis where are we headed?" Melanon asked.
"To the island kingdom of Skyros," answered a voice from behind them.
Everyone turned to see the tall form of a woman who resembled Briseis. The newcomers on the ship (besides Briseis) were astounded by the likeness of the two women. They were the about the same height and built, their skin tones nearly matched, and to their surprise, this woman was even as beautiful as their noblewoman. With her long, wavy raven hair touched with blue, emerald green eyes with gray petals, and her softly angular features, she was an exotic version of Briseis, but another goddess upon the earth, all the same.
Briseis smirked at their expressions, Amaryllis did as well. "Everyone, this is a Mistress of the Amazon and the Queen of Athens, Amaryllis."
Hearing that she was titled, they all moved to bow, but the Queen stopped them. "Please, this is no time for formalities, respecting me with your words and actions is far greater than bowing to me." They were surprised at this, never had a reigning monarch order them not to bow, but they complied, nonetheless.
"Why Skyros?" Briseis asked.
The Queen shrugged, "It was randomly selected out of the islands that are between Greece and the Asia Minor." She paused, "There is something I must speak to you about." Briseis nodded and followed her friend below deck.
"What is it?" The noble inquired curiously.
Amaryllis took a deep breath. "You remember the legend of a mortal goddess who was sent by her parents to be born as a mortal?"
"Yes, of course, the daughter of Hermes and Aphrodite, perhaps she could be considered part of the reason for this upcoming war; why, are we searching for her?"
"She is already found," the Athenian Queen answered immediately. Briseis knitted her eyebrows, but before she could say even a word, Amaryllis continued, "She stands right in front of me." Her friend responded with only widening her eyes and shaking her head in disbelief, a silent 'no' emerged from her lips. "Yes, you are the mortal goddess, the daughter of Aphrodite and Hermes-" a gasp came from behind the women and they turned to see Melanon, Andromache, and Helen.
"What are you doing here?" Briseis asked a bit harshly, she tried to mask her uneasiness with ire.
Melanon, seeing that his two companions were incapable, answered for all of them, "An Amazon sent us down here." That was all he could say, for that was the only reason. Briseis turned to Amaryllis.
She looked at her stolidly. "I thought it best, that your friends and family know about your true lineage."
Briseis could only shake her head again. "Are you sure that you are not mistaken?"
Amaryllis then held some cool sympathy in her eyes. "You know I do not make mistakes and I would never jest about a matter such as this."
"How do you know that Hermes and Aphrodite are Briseis' true parents?" Melanon asked with pure curiosity, though his eyes bore into the queen's, knowing that she was hiding something.
"I am in close confidence with the Gods; that is all I can say." Amaryllis answered. "Now, that you know Lord Melanon, it is up to you which of your brothers to inform if not all. No one else is know of this, everyone who can be trusted with this knowledge have already been informed." The nobleman nodded in understanding. "Now if the three of you could leave us." Melanon, Andromache, and Helen dipped their heads slightly and complied.
"They wish to see you, Hermes and Aphrodite." Briseis looked up, shocked. She wanted to ask why they would want to speak to her, but Amaryllis was saying no more, simply goading to listen to her…parents. After a deep sigh, a simple nod was enough for confirmation that she would see the two Olympians.
Amaryllis gestured to their right. Seemingly out of thin, two figures appeared a man and a woman. They both were both tall and slim and beautiful, but where the man was dark-haired and gray-eyed, the woman was fair-haired and blue-eyed.
"Hermes, Aphrodite," Amaryllis bowed.
The two Gods did, as well, "Amara, a pleasure to see you once more."
"Likewise, Hermes," The Athenian Queen turned to her friend, "Briseis?"
The noble stepped forward, but said nothing, still in shock of the new information and of being in the presence of two Olympians.
Aphrodite smiled; light tears were streaming from her face. "We are so proud of you Briseis, you have done very well."
The woman's heart shattered, thinking of all the horrible things she had caused, how could they be proud? "But…I've-"
"You've done nothing wrong daughter. All that has happened, all that is going to happen is what fate has decided for the world, the way you are intertwined in it, your role, no one and nothing could change it." Hermes said.
"And if you blame yourself for the impending war," Amaryllis stated, "then I am at fault as well, for as much as Nemesis hates you, her contempt for me equal, if not greater."
Though she still did not believe that, she kept that thought to herself. The four of them proceeded to discussing Briseis' old illness that had been sent by Nemesis, but could not touch her now, for her immortal blood was strong in her veins, from the day of her twenty-first onward. They conversed about, also, what the exact plans for the war were. After they finished, silence was the only thing heard in the hull of the ship.
Until Aphrodite stepped closer to Briseis and said, "We understand if you do not accept us as your parents, but know this…we have watched over you your entire life, through everything and we could not have asked for, or even gotten, a more courageous, intelligent, kind, caring, giving, talented, or beautiful child; we love you." Briseis stared at her true mother with awe, such words were unexpected (and a bit unwanted) and yet, they warmed her heart and she accepted them.
The noblewoman struggled with her words, but after a few moments, "I may not have known you as my parents, but I thank you greatly for the mortal parents you gave me."
Hermes nodded. "I'm sure, that one day you will grow to love us as you love Briseus and Hesione." He sounded wistful.
"I wouldn't doubt that statement," she replied and unexpectedly, Briseis walked forward and allowed her parents to embrace her. When they separated, Aphrodite put a pendant around her daughter's neck, looking down Briseis saw that it was the shell necklace that was gifted to her by the real Achilles, the one that the false Achilles had broken days ago. Offering the Goddess a grateful smile, a connection passed between mother and daughter. The Gods drew back to the shadows and disappeared.
"I know that it will take a bit adjusting," Amaryllis startled Briseis, "but this is something that only your close friends and family will know about, if not for Eudorus, who is Hermes' mortal son, you would be the only one to know about this."
Briseis nodded and then laughed lightly. "I almost forgot that Achilles' second was the son of Hermes…so he is technically my half-brother." She paused. "Dionysus and Aphrodite are brother and sister as Hermes and Athena are half-siblings…so we are technically cousins."
Amaryllis smiled warmly and nodded. "Come, Briseis, let's join everyone on deck."
Her friend hesitated, "Do I really have a right to that name?"
The Queen looked sympathetic once more. "Of course, Hesione carried you and birthed, Briseus helped her raise you and in turn you raised their sons, you have every right to be named the daughter of Briseus…and you are a 'strong daughter'." Briseis smiled, comforted by those words. "The name that Hermes and Aphrodite would have chosen for you suits you, too." The noble's brow rose, signaling for the Queen to go on. "They would have called you Adonia 'goddess'."
Briseis half chuckled and half laughed at that, she was sure that no one would disagree with that name for her. She herself thought that it was a pretty name, but not really for her. Perhaps, she was simply accustomed to her own name, that she could not imagine going by another. Abandoning the thoughts, she followed Amaryllis back onto the deck of the ship.
Hentayol ran to his sister and clung to her. "What is it?" She asked.
The boy was hesitant for a moment, but he gathered his courage and asked "Since you have another family in the world, one that is related to you by blood, will you love the family you have with us any less?"
Briseis was appalled, "No, of course not, never. You are brother and I love you, no matter if we share blood or not, because a true family runs deeper than simply blood."
"And," Amaryllis added, "There's more than one kind of family."
Smiles and laughs were shared aboard the ship as the winds, Poseidon, and Atlas guided them to their destination of Skyros.
Anyone recognize that last quote? Well anyone who loves Bones should.
Thanks for reading, please review.