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Chapter 10

The little cabin Achilles had made for himself was situated almost in the middle of the forest, where its hidden lake lay near the cabin and where the moon shone brightly just a little above the herculean trees that stood around the great warrior. He gazed upon the still lake, letting himself take the calm and peace it gave. Its waters glistened in the night, giving the impression that maybe lost jewels and sparkling diamonds lay underneath that calm surface.

Tonight, his mind would not rest. So much has happened in such a short and unexpected day. A descendant of his beloved has managed to worm her way to him. Though it was an accident of course. This same descendant also came from the future, had the same face of that of her origin, who was currently sitting in his bed of furs in the warmth of his cabin, who he had just kissed mere moments ago.

Achilles closed his eyes in weariness. This was a lot to take in after all. He scolded himself for his actions earlier. But how could he resist? He missed his beloved so much, even if it was just a mirage or a descendant of the future, anything that reminded him of her, it was enough to make his heart melt to the point of no return.

Men in love never usually know what they are doing. Their actions always rash and unreasonable at times. Love can bring a man to insanity.

And Achilles had been going insane since the first time he laid eyes on his priestess.

Another distinct and cherished memory rushed into his thoughts as he continued looking across the lake. His eyes almost filled with tears as he remembered it.

He had killed Hector earlier during the day and dragged him all over the beach where the Greek camp resided. Each Greek soldier had stopped whatever it was they were doing to gaze upon the sight of their mighty leader, Achilles dragging the dead corpse of Prince Hector of Troy. They feared and pitied him all the more now. This final act of no mercy showed how much power Achilles really had, what he capable of doing, how much rage and pain he had inside of him. It seemed more conspicuous as Hector's body was being dragged all over the place.

But the great warrior was oblivious the soldiers' thoughts. All he felt was the triumph of killing the fool of a prince. He deserved it. In Achilles' thoughts, 'A life for a life' kept drumming in his brains till it reached the very core of his soul. Yes, the Prince of Troy deserved the death and so much more. He deserved it…

But when he opened the flaps to his tent, all earlier thoughts and emotions that were pulsing in him vanished as swiftly before he could even process it. The sight he saw before him broke his heart and his soul completely.

There, at the very end of his tent, the figure of his beloved priestess huddled, looking smaller than ever, knees up till the endpoint of her chin and tears endlessly falling down her most beautiful eyes.

When he entered, the sight of him made her whimper and cry and wail all the same. She understood. If Achilles was here, Hector was gone. She covered her ears with her hands, trembling and on the brink of insanity. How could she love this man who showed no mercy?

For the life of her, she mourned two souls who were most precious to her. His cousin. Her cousin. She didn't stop crying till she had no tears left to cry.

Achilles sat by the side, not daring to look at her. He just sat there and listened to his beloved's wailings. Each scream tearing his soul and scarring his heart.

He just wanted to die as well.

Priam had come that evening to confront him. Brave of him to ask to return his son to him. Priam's words had cut him like a knife and he had to wonder if the entire royal family had this strange ability of words that could cut people like the knife. He gave in of course. If Briseis could do it, so could Priam. They are of blood.

He had finally cried for Hector earlier. The guilt, the pain, the regret washing over him like a tide. He knew he was going to die soon. He never knew that time that someone would beat him to it.

"Your son was the best I fought." Achilles said solemnly and sincerely, walking to the brave king that stood before him. He showed Priam the proper respect he would never dare show to Agamemnon.

"In my country, the funeral games last for 12 days."

"It is the same in my country." The King of Troy replied.

"Then the prince will have that honour." Achilles declared. It obviously surprised the old King. He didn't expect this. "No Greek will attack Troy for 12 days."

And old Priam eyes welled with tears at the small kindness his son's murderer had just bestowed upon him. Perhaps he did have a heart and did feel remorse. Forgiving him seemed a lot more possible now. He would be eternally grateful for this small act of kindness, for this small grant of peace.

Priam didn't say anything, though his eyes told the warrior a thousand words.

A figure emerged from the shadows suddenly and Priam had to squint his eyes to see clearly. When he realized who it was, he was beyond words.

"Briseis?" He whispered, not quite believing it.

She ran to him and hugged him, silently saying how she missed her Uncle terribly.

"We thought you were dead." Priam said tearfully as he hugged her.

They broke apart and both eyes turned to the golden haired man that watched them as they reunited. The way Achilles' eyes were fixed on his niece did not go unnoticed by Priam.

"You're free."

The simple statement sent Briseis reeling. She turned to her Uncle, silently pleading for a time alone with the warrior. Priam complied of course, walking to the carriage provided for him, he stood there and watched his niece and his son's murderer, his thoughts whirling in circles.

Briseis walked to him, her eyes asking him if what he was saying was true. If he was really letting her go. Her eyes asked a million questions and Achilles saw them all and so desperately wanted to answer them. His heart was breaking. But he had to let her go. She needed to be with her family now. She needed to mourn properly. She needed to be safe within the walls of Troy.

"If I hurt you," He started, walking closer to her. "It's not what I wanted."

It was his way of saying he was sorry for everything he had done to her. He said with his heart signing the deal it was hard not to believe. Briseis knew what he said was the truth. And she had to forgive him for what he did. They would all lose someone dear one way or another.

Achilles took her small hand, trying very hard not to tremble. Just touching her was painful enough. He slowly dropped in her hand the pearl necklace that once belonged to his cousin. It was his final gift to her. A way of saying goodbye. Something to remember him by. And Briseis' heart tore into two when he handed her the one last thing that reminded him of the cousin he lost. She did not deserve this.

But as he tightly shut her hand, enclosing the necklace, he was telling her she did deserve it.

It took him every inch of strength to take his eyes away from her. Would he ever see her again? But he had to remain strong. This was for her own good.

"Go." He commanded softly. He turned to King Priam. "No one will stop you. You have my word."

"Come my girl." Priam said to his niece, offering his hand to her. Achilles slowly let go of her hand, gently pushing her to her Uncle. She gave him a final glance, before she turned away to take hold of her Uncle's outstretched hand.

Then she stopped.

"Come now." Priam coaxed her gently.

Briseis closed her eyes. "No." The one word seemed to hang in the air. Achilles' heart was beating rapidly at her one-word statement.

She let go of her Uncle's hand and turned to her beautiful, golden-haired, blue eyed beloved. He was so beautiful even in the night. Deep inside, he was a good man. That she knew. She slowly walked towards him and strong arms were around her in an instant. She cried in his shoulder and he tried his best to comfort her.

"I will not go." She declared bravely to him as they broke apart.

Achilles almost smiled. "You must."

She shook her head in denial, defying him gently. And soon her lips were on his, desperate and pleading. But even so, she knew within her, he would still let her go. He was a good man after all. He was giving her up for her own happiness.

The entire Myrmidon army stood around them, their own hearts breaking at the sight before them. Their leader had never shown such love for someone. Especially to an enemy. But now he finally experienced as they all have and now he was about to sacrifice her for her own good. He had already lost his cousin, now he was losing his beloved. It tore them apart as well.

"Please…you must go." Achilles pleaded again. She had come back to him but he was still letting her go. "It's what you have wanted."

"No." She shook her head. "I don't want to leave you. I can't. Not like this…" Tears were now falling on her face again.

Achilles wiped the tears away with his thumbs, fighting the urge to cry himself.

"Ssh. It's alright. It's alright…" How was it alright? He didn't know. "I need you to be safe. And you must be with your family."

He leaned his forehead on hers. "Promise me you will be safe. You must understand."

More tears flowed down her eyes and she said nothing. "Please promise me."

At last, finally realizing she couldn't do anything anymore, simply nodded, too weak for words.

"Now go." Achilles released her and gently walked her to her Uncle, waiting patiently for her. "We will meet again soon. I promise. You know I never break my promises."

Briseis simply nodded, taking his words to her heart, trusting and believing him completely.

"I love you." She openly proclaimed to him. He froze, his eyes searching hers. It was the first time she had said such a thing so openly, so genuinely, so lovingly. The three words finally cracked him up and the tears now flowed down his cheeks as well, uncontrollable. His heart soared to the heavens at that moment. He was beyond words. He never knew how to say it back. He couldn't say it back because he didn't know how. And she understood.

He reached up and kissed her this time, not caring if the King of Troy stood right in front of them. He needed to tell her in that kiss that he loved her too, more than his own life and he would gladly die for her. He needed to apologize for all the hurt he had put her through. He needed to tell her she will never be forgotten as long as he lived.

Finally they broke apart. Their souls crying to the gods for some small mercy.

"Go." He whispered hoarsely. His voice betraying his emotions. He turned to Priam, who was gazing upon him with all the sadness of the world, forgiveness in his eyes. "You are a far better king than the one leading this army." He then turned to Briseis. "And you shall never be forgotten. I will always be with you."

Then they rode off in the night. Briseis glanced back as they drifted further away from the Greek camp. She would never forget him either. She could never.

They rode off into the night and Achilles looked on even when they were gone.

His heart had never broke so much.

He never even got the chance to respond to her proclamation of love verbally.

Achilles drifted from the memory, another set of tears flowing. He never got the chance to say he loved her back. It was unfair. How fate loathed him so. The wind blew against him softly, calming his soul. He always knew it was Briseis at work whenever he'd feel such calm seeping into him.

"I love you too." He whispered to the wind. How he wished he could've said it when she was alive.

"I'm sorry." He didn't feel the presence till it spoke. He felt her approach him. "You must've lost someone dear, I'm sorry."

Achilles turned to the Briseis that stood before him now. Genuine concern radiated off her. Seeing the face of hers made the tears run down even more. How could he go on with this? She had asked help from him earlier but how could he help her? When he couldn't even help himself?

"You must've really loved her."

Achilles nodded. "With all my heart. She died saving my life. She wasn't suppose to do that. I was fated to die. But she stopped it."

He didn't know why he was unloading himself completely to a stranger that had his beloved's face but he couldn't help himself. He was just grateful that she came to listen and not say anything else.

"She was always so very brave." Achilles thought back to his priestess fondly. "So good and so kind. Full of hope and love. She was perfect. She was everything I was not."

A long moment of silence hung between them.

"She also had your face."

Briseis Bolton looked up, realization dawning into her. And guilt swiftly took her, knowing she was the cause of the great warrior's anguish.

"Her name was Briseis."

And then she remembered. From the books that she read, what they had discussed in class. The woman that Achilles fought over with King Agamemnon. The woman this man before her loved so deeply. The woman who she was named after. The great Princess of Troy…Briseis.

She couldn't say anything, shocked and guilty beyond words. She didn't know.

So for a long while, they didn't say anything more, just stood side by side gazing at the calm and beautiful lake illuminating through the night.

It would've gone well if a big invisible thud hadn't hit her so suddenly. She collapsed to the ground, pain engulfing her body once again, her mind fighting with the dark for light. She didn't notice the lake anymore. She didn't notice Achilles dropping to his knees, at her side in an instant. She didn't notice anything anymore.

All she felt was pain and darkness.

And then she saw him.

She saw her brother, Troy.

He was in pain too.

It was their connection.

"Troy…"

It was the last thing she uttered before she blacked out completely.

---------------------------------------------------

Troy Bolton woke up to series of body pains and headaches. Stars filled his vision as soon as he opened his eyes and he thought he might black out again.

He vaguely remembered that he was roughly attacked by that all-black clad figure with red eyes…

After a few more agonizing moments, he was able to get a grip upon himself and despite his major body pains and headache, at least he able to get good look at his surroundings.

He groaned.

Where the heck am I now?

He was definitely not back in Albuquerque or East High, he thought grumpily. Yet, neither was he in that market place he was walking in earlier.

Instead he lay on a bed of furs and in some sort of small hut. Most of the room was occupied by ingredients Troy didn't even want to begin to understand, a couple of weapons here and there but mostly it looked like a really messed up storage room of supplies. To place a bed amidst all that, he didn't quite get.

Just a few feet before the bed was a door which Troy noticed was slowly creaking. Someone was coming in.

Troy didn't know why his heart was beating quite rapidly that moment.

The now opened wooden door revealed an old hunchbacked woman, who wore grey rags and held the crane in one hand, and had strange silver white hair covering most of her face. She was holding some sort of bowl in her other hand and Troy would've tried to help the old lady if her croaked and hoarse voice didn't stop him.

"No, my child. Sit. And rest."

Troy gulped and remained where he was.

The woman reminded him of some old dark witch from the past who had great power and could cast spells and hexes and curses whenever she wanted to.

Gazing once again around his surroundings and remembering that he was, in fact, in the timeline were witches like that actually existed; he resisted the urge to shiver visibly.

"You are cold." The old lady stated in the silence.

She slowly took a dark, thick wool and placed it on Troy's shoulders. Somehow, he shivered all the more by being in close proximity with her presence.

"Do not fear me child." She tried to say gently, but couldn't since her voice was too hoarse with age. "I am only here to help you."

"Ok…" Troy drawled, cautious but wanting to satisfy his gnawing curiosity all the same. "You can start by telling me where I am and what I am doing here." He paused. "Please…" Troy was always the respectable kind of guy.

But she didn't answer the questions. She only placed him further into confusion and now…fear. He fought his urge of nausea when she gravely said,

"You are in danger."