Well hello there! Long time no see, eh? Wait! Don't shoot me for thinking you forgive me!
Achilles: In your dreams!
Hey! I wasn't talking to you! I was talking to the readers, although you have the right to be mad as well for me making you sit in freeze frame as I come up with the new material, but I mean, it's to be expected and I just thought that-
Random Soldier 1: Get on with the story!
Random Soldier 2: Yeah! No kidding, I can't stand like this forever!
Alright, alright! Sheesh! Without further ado, I introduce a chapter of pure fluffiness (and godliness, hehehe, you'll see what I mean), for those of you who are in to the sort.
A.N.I just decided to up the rating, just to be safe….not that you really care, you just want to read it, yeah anyways….
When the Tables Turn-Chapter 10-Oh To Be Mighty and Meddlesome
LAST CHAPTER.. High above all the constant movement of the battlefield, Zeus watched on in wonder…
Meddling in the affairs of mortals had never really been an interest to him, but it seemed that if Aphrodite could find joy in it, then he could as well. It was implied that during such an epic time of war, that Ares could be seen walking among the common folk. He even talked to them if he wished, and simply erased the recollection of ever meeting him from their feeble minds. They were, after all, Gods, creators of all that humankind knew and loved. They had given life to them, and could take it away if they wished it. Why should they not inspect how their miracles were being used in everyday life? Then again, Zeus was most powerful and father of all Gods, and surely he should not enjoy in spending the day with a mortal, but his ideal changed. He often found a beautiful young trumpet to follow if she took his fancy, but today, he felt it necessary to observe two people that had been occupying much of Aphrodite's time. Briseis: Trojan priestess to Apollo, and Achilles: fierce warrior of Greece.
He had seen great sorrow and confusion from either of them, and wondered if Aphrodite was really more for causing them pain, then love, as she should. Perhaps he, Zeus, mightiest of Gods, should set her straight.
…Mount Olympus…
Far from where Zeus flew, the lady Aphrodite cackled in amusement. It was not that of an evil woman, but more so of a woman enjoying herself beyond compare. She knew where Zeus was, and cared not for his meddlesome mind. "He can carry no power over me. He does not understand, nor control the ways of love, nor will he ever. He can find his own fun, and besides, should I not have something to amuse myself with? It is war, and so one would think love could not conquer, but I have proven that already false. Look at Paris and Helen! Their love is said to have caused this war-"
"Give yourself what credit you want, lady, but this war was not started by you." Pallas Athene emerged from the darkness of Aphrodite's lair. "This war was started by foolhardy old men. Menelaus, his pride tainted, cares no more for his wife then for an expensive vase that is pretty to look at. He and his brother, Agamemnon, wanted nothing more than an excuse to fight the Trojans, who stood against them for so long. They are greedy and power-hungry, they start wars for themselves and their pride, not for others."
Aphrodite pouted childishly. "Oh must you always be that way, Athene? So serious? Why not have some fun with me?"
Pallas Athene stared blankly at the elder goddess. "I believe that your definition of fun and mine are quite different, my lady."
"Don't call me that. It makes me feel old! I have a name, so use it," she teased. "Now, won't you come and watch young love with me? That will be fun, won't it?"
Athene was not convinced. Aphrodite was never so friendly to others unless it had some hidden advantage to her. Then again, the war may simply be wearing on her nerves, making her seem a bit frazzled. Perhaps there was nothing more to it than to humor her. Still, "Yes, my la-Aphrodite," she murmured cautiously.
(A.N. this is completely irrelevant, but dude! We're in a tornado watch and "golf-ball sized hail" is heading straight for us... oh- and rotating clouds! I want to get this done and updated before we get blown away! Just kidding, ok, anyways...)
Aphrodite walked out to the veranda of the castle on Mount Olympus. A basin had been placed precariously on the edge of the hand railing. Aphrodite waved her heavily jeweled hand over the murky water in the basin. It did nothing at first, and then rippled and cleared to show, not the reflection of the woman standing above it, but a scene that Aphrodite found quite familiar. Athene came to stand slowly at the Goddess' side. Aphrodite smiled and looked down into the basin when her expression became unreadable. Pallas Athene leaned and peered into the liquid and her eyes narrowed to a squint when she saw what the Goddess of Love saw.
…:v:…Achilles Tent…:v:…
Briseis had gone back inside and laid down on the bed again to rest her eyes. She heard Achilles approach, but did not get up. She felt him standing over her and opened her eyes to smile at him. To her surprise, he returned the smile, even if it was a slight one. He took her hand in his and stroked the heel of her thumb with his.
Briseis was slightly in shock at his tender behavior, but decided not to waste it. "Am I still your captive?" she asked softly.
"Captive is such a harsh word. You are my guest," he replied.
"In Troy, guests can leave whenever they wish."
Achilles knelt beside where she lay. "Strange custom." Achilles, still holding Briseis' hand, turns the palm to face him. He traces a finger along the lines. Briseis felt a shiver go up her spine at the contact.
"You've never worked the fields. Never chopped wood, never carried a milk pail. These are the hands of royalty." He did not look at her, merely observed her smooth hand. Achilles replaced her hand to where it had lay on her stomach and turned his over for her to look at.
"My hands are gates to the underworld. All my life I've walked with Hades. But I grow tired of his company." He paused for a moment to take her hands in his again. Briseis sat up and looked into the crystal blue orbs that were his eyes. "Come with me to Larissa," he said finally.
Briseis smiled at this. "Larissa." She said thoughtfully. "Is that where you're from? It's a pretty name." Briseis was still looking him in the eyes, though his gaze was elsewhere. She bore into them, trying to find their hidden emotion. She had always been able to tell someone's true feelings through their eyes.
"I thought I'd never see it again." Briseis saw in them now, a deep love, love for his city of Larissa, for his home. "Before I left for this war my mother told me my fate." Now they showed pain.
"She speaks with the gods?" Briseis prodded.
"She knows many things." He exhaled deeply. Briseis tore her eyes away from his; she did not wish to know his feelings anymore. They were more than her heart could bear. "She told me if I stayed home I'd have a long, peaceful life. And if I came to Troy, life would be short... but my name would never be forgotten."
"And you chose Troy." It was not a question, but there was one underlying it, 'Why did you choose Troy?'
"But what if Fate brought me here for another purpose?" he interrupted her thoughts. "What if I had to go to war to find the peace I have longed for?" His voice faltered, and Briseis could not help but to look into his eyes once more. "To find you?" He finally looked at her to find tears in her eyes. He reached a hand up and stroked her cheek until one fell from each eye. In which time, he wiped them from her face. She brought her hands to either side of his head and pulled him to her.
It was strange how this kiss could be so different. It was an exact opposite to the kisses of last night. They had been full of passion and hunger, Briseis could feel heat rising to her fair face at the memory, but this kiss was loving and tender, chaste yet long enough to satisfy them both. All the questions that had plagued her, seemed to disappear from her mind instantly. They broke apart and he wrapped his arms around her. She tousled his golden hair affectionately, and for a moment, they simply looked at each other. Achilles leaned his head down onto her shoulder like a little boy, and she continued to stroke his hair. They stood like this for a minute or so until noises outside the tent rang out. Achilles raised his head from her shoulder and listened intently. She dropped her hands to his shoulders and watched as his face hardened again.
…Mount Olympus…
Aphrodite waved her hand in the opposite direction across the basin of water. "You see what I find so amusing?" she asked her companion.
Pallas Athene only stared at Aphrodite in wonder. "Yes," she answered simply and turned on her heel and left the Love Goddess. 'This is what she has been doing this whole time? What a waste!' She thought as she stormed out the castle. 'I simply must speak to Ares of this.'
Aphrodite turned back to the basin and sighed. "Well, she didn't enjoy that nearly as much as I did I can see. Sometimes I believe that no one really understands me. No matter, I grow tired of observing. I must think of what I should do to test our young lovers… Hmmm, this could be a curious match indeed…." And with that, Aphrodite, the most conniving and meddlesome of Goddesses, leaned her elbows on the railing and stared out into the mist, deep in thought.
…:v:…
Mwuahaha! You didn't think that Briseis and Achilles would get along so easily from here on in, did you? Ah my dearest friends, unfortunately, that is what we like to call a plot twist….. How did ya like the tender moment between Briseis and Achilles? I thought I'd give ya one since the next few chapters are going to be some trials and tribulations for those of you who know the movie well enough to recognize. Ok! On with the Thank you's!
Priestess of the Myrmidon: thank you, glad to see you reviewed! Me the Review monster! Me LOVE reviews! Hehe, hope you liked this chapter!
Gaby: thanks for reading it all the way through, lots of people are doing that…anyways, sorry I can't give you the description you wanted, I should've upped the rating before that last chapter, and just gone into more description…crap! You gotta tell me this stuff BEFORE I do something stupid, oh well, thanks for reading, and I hope you like this chapter!
Moony's number 1: Yay! I'm glad you're happy with the "subtleness" I'm a big fan of hugely graphic detail either… well I updated again, so there it was, and hope you liked it.
Massie: thanks! And I hope I can too! LoL
Nikki81: eh, who needs to sign in anyways! And well, we'll just see if I am "disinclined to acquiest to your request." Hehehe, Pirates of the Caribbean, good stuff!
Modern Goddess: no no no, your last review made me laugh in fact. Thank you very much, I like fluffy stuff as much as the next person, and writing them is fun: ) BTW- I couldn't tell you if I was going with the ending or not, that would just be no fun, but I can tell you that I cried as well! "Remember Me" didn't help, it's just so sad. That's the day I fell in love w/ Josh Groban's voice… sigh
Arawen: cool! Thanks for reading and reviewing, I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as the last 9, YAY! I'm in the double digits finally!
Pretty-Unknown: THANKS! I'LL TRY!
If I forgot anyone, let me know! Well, that wasn't the 10 reviews I wanted, but we're getting there! That's 8, that only leaves……… uhh, take the……..carry the two…..subtract the….uhhhh…..ermm…. holds up 2 fingersThis many! Thanks again to all who reviewed, I might get into the triple digits for reviews by the end of this story! Please review after reading, I accept anonymous reviews! I had a bunch of stuff I wanted to say, but I can't remember them…..errr…. Oh! Sorry! It took way too long to get this out! You see, I suffer from what I like to call LAWS, more commonly known as Lazy Ass Writers' Syndrome, but that's no excuse for this taking so long, but I am working on another fic that I just started, so it's taking a lot of my time. Speaking of which, if you know the Sailor Moon Storyline, check out my new fic called "Home Is Where the Heart Is" it's a Harry Potter Sailor Moon crossover. Ok, peace and love to all (hehe, sounds like Christmas or sumthing) and happy reading!