Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to write. I wanted to get this chapter done right as it is a very key point in the story and so I ended up rewriting it several times. In the end, I cut it a bit short but don't worry - the next chapter will come much quicker! Comments really do inspire me to write so please, comment!

Briseis stood in front of the small mirror, studying her reflection. She hadn't bothered to look at herself in the mirror for a long time and now that she did, she was surprised. Her hair was much longer than it used to be and was thick and luxurious. While she had been living on Lathos, she hadn't had many opportunities to use the fine perfumes and oils to smooth her hair out but here she had... It made a difference. She was still slender and the dark red dress fell perfectly around her curves, accenting them. The loose black sash hung around her hips, giving form to the dress. All in all, she looked rather well.

"Come, Briseis..."

Jason's voice tugged her out of her staring and she glanced over her shoulder at him. "Yes?"

He smiled, "If you look at yourself much longer, you'll be no better than the story of Narcissus... Men a'plenty will be staring at you tonight; you need not do it for them."

She laughed and turned from the mirror, walking to the door. "You flatter me too much," she chided a bit playfully as they exited their home. Jason merely smiled and took her hand to help her up the pathway to the King's palace. Briseis gazed up at the palace in some amount of awe. While her uncle's palace in Troy had been impressive, it was nothing like the mountain palace of Odysseus.

The entire building was built with white stone, smoothed and shaped into high arching ceilings and doorways. Richly colored tapestries depicting heroic scenes hung from the walls, finely crafted and beautifully designed. The floors were a smooth, almost glossy stone, as if the rock had been polished excessively. High class men and ladies stood in assembly, all dressed in the finest of clothes. While Briseis had been used to this sort of thing in her uncle's court, she had been away from luxury and richness for so long that now it almost seemed foreign to her.

A sense of relief washed over her when Jason leaned close to her and whispered softly in her ear, "They all look like quail stuffed within an inch of their lives." His sense of humor, never failing to make her smile, had the desired effect of relaxing her. She went to stand with Jason, waiting for the king and his entourage to arrive. She wasn't sure how she felt about this – Odysseus had attacked her family and her city and country...now she was living in his country and standing in his palace. Would he recognize her? Would he even realize that he had destroyed her life for a long time?

Trumpets sounded.

The king was entering.

Odysseus entered first, dressed in splendid robes of midnight blue, lined with rich gold hued fabric. His wife, Penelope was dressed in a similar color though hers was lined with silver instead of gold. The gathered assembly cheered, clearly full of love for their king and queen. Behind them, an impossibly tall, broad-shouldered man stood. Half hidden by shadows, Briseis could not make out his face, yet there was something familiar about him. She straightened up a bit to try and get a closer look, though in a moment, the king and queen stepped forward and with them, the tall man.

Her heart stopped as she stared.

Brilliant blue eyes. A mane of golden hair to his shoulders. Strong jaw and cheek bones. Lifted chin. Broad shoulders. One hand rested on his sword, long fingers curling around the hilt. How many times had Briseis dreamed of this face? Of this man? She felt dizzy and uneasily, she put out a hand to try and steady herself but found herself grasping nothing but air. Off balance, she stumbled to the side before her conscious mind gave out all together and she passed out in a black stupor. The last thing she could remember was Jason crouching over her and heavy footsteps coming closer.

Odysseus was trying to calm down Achilles. Considering that the man stood almost a head taller than him and was built like an ox, this was understandably difficult. Two men stood nearby, waiting to step in if needed. By the door stood Jason, brown eyes dark with rage and his entire body rigid with anger. His lips were sealed however.

After Briseis had fainted, the entire assembly had turned to look, including Odysseus, Penelope and Achilles. Then the trouble had begun. Achilles had rushed over, in shock, ready to take control. But Jason hadn't allowed him near her. That was when Achilles had hit Jason and chaos had ensued. Penelope had taken Briseis to the queen's own private chambers and settled her on the bed. The men had gone off to another room where Odysseus had tried to calm down his friend. It wasn't working.

Finally, Achilles took a step back and lifted his hands in a defensive gesture as if to say that he would back down. Odysseus stepped back warily and motioned to the guards, having them leave the room. He didn't know what was going to follow but he was certain that it was going to be unpleasant. Sure enough, as soon as the guards left the room, Achilles started yelling, accusing Jason of the foulest of things, of stealing Briseis...but now Jason was not quiet any longer.

"She wasn't yours! She was recreating a life without you in it and she was happy! She is happy! She loves me. You lost your chance...now leave her alone and leave us alone."

There were only three words that Achilles heard in all of that: she loves me. His eyes narrowed and he took a step forward, his jaw tensed with anger, "You know nothing of who she loves. How dare you assume that she –"

"She told me that she loved me." Jason's voice had shifted to something colder, sharper, almost mocking Achilles. Triumph shone in his dark brown eyes as he lifted his chin slightly higher, "She said that she loved me. So think – do you really wish to kill a man she truly loves?" Playing with fire...that was what Jason was doing. He knew that Achilles must still love Briseis and was praying to the gods that Achilles wouldn't strike him down due to how Briseis felt. It was a risk; it was a gamble...it worked.

Achilles took a step back. "I want to see her," he said, his voice low and still a threatening tone. Odysseus glanced from one man to another and then back to Jason, "Perhaps it would be best. We still honor your marriage, of course, but he is allowed to see her."

This arrangement clearly didn't please Jason but who was he to argue with the king? "As long as I'm there as well," Jason clarified, his eyes shifting back to Achilles.

Odysseus nodded wearily – this was more of a mess than he knew what to deal with.

In the queen's chambers, Briseis found herself slowly regaining consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open and she realized that the queen herself was sitting near the bed. Briseis' eyes widened and she tried to sit up but Penelope put a hand on her shoulder and gently pressed her back down, "Nay, do not worry yourself about how you appear. There are two men who wish to see you – your husband and Achilles. One word from you and I will send them away however. What do you wish to do?"

Briseis closed her eyes and sank back against the bed, speaking quietly, "Keep them away...I cannot see them yet."