My friend and I eventually reached the city limits. My father saw us and came running.
"Here you are. Where were you? I was worried you were kidnapped for ransom or died! You know how that would affect this kingdom? And our kingdom? And our ties? This is unacceptable!"
Father's degradation usually led to a punch or a slap by his hand. Not always but it looked like he readied himself to strike.
"Your Majesty, he engaged in diplomatic relations of his own."
My father turned towards the voice. My new friend stepped towards my father.
"Your Majesty, I am the prince of this land. I am Patroclus, King Menoetius's son."
He bowed gratuitously and simultaneously grinned at me. I suppressed a giggle: he was mocking me from earlier.
"I apologize for the lack of communication. I met him in the streets and recognized him at once. Who would not be able to recognize the son of Peleus and the goddess Thetis? The sea shines through his face. He is handsome and agile like his father and the gods themselves."
Blood arose in my cheeks. I wanted more of his praise and yet I was…embarrassed. Not of the praise, but my father being there to hear it.
"As prince of Opus and bound by the duties of xenia, I felt incumbent to show him the countryside, the land which he would not see otherwise. The palace is beautiful and worthy of my father. But our land is not solely our palace. Here."
He pulled out a fig he had saved. He knelt in supplication.
"Lord Peleus, it is not much but our meeting was so unexpected just now. Please let our first gift be of the fruit of the land I love so much. My father, of course, will bear more lavish and appropriate gifts upon you and your son when you both approach his palace. But for now, please, take this."
My father stood aback: he did not expect such eloquence from a child. He paused for a second and then took the fruit.
"Thank you, Prince Patroclus. Achilles, you can learn something from him. Let us go to the palace. Come on, son."
My father reached out and grabbed my arm roughly. Patroclus saw and spoke up.
"Lord Peleus, I have a favor I must ask of you. I do think it important for the bonds of our nations to be forged amongst multiple generations. May I lead your son back to our palace at our own leisure? We will be there by Selene's rise."
Father nodded, saying "Of course you may, since you asked so nicely. Please instruct my son everything that makes you a blessing to your father and mother. Achilles, you can learn a few things about diplomacy from him."
Patroclus's eyes widened while his lips shook imperceptibly.
"Yes, sir. Thank you for the compliment. We shall see you soon."
He bowed again, deep. No smile came this time, the winced face of holding back tears. It hurt me to see my friend like this. I did not know why it did, but I felt anger and vengeful.
Who made him want to cry? The perpetrator must pay. That beautiful face…. I mean face…must never release tears.
My father did not notice and went away towards the city and the palace. I turned back to my friend. He arose, kept himself composed. Once my father was out of eyesight and earshot, his voice broke.
"A…ach…chilles…please pardon me. I shall return promptly."
He ran off.
I was alone again. I remembered my day prior to meeting him. How I felt my entire life before I met him. I felt incomplete. But this new feeling of comradery and friendship gave me hope to live on. To be someone. To be something.
Hope. I never had that before.
We Achaeans learned of Pandora, the first woman. Gifted by all the gods (as her name implies), she was wedded to the Titan Epimetheus as an act of friendship. Epimetheus was the more obtuse brother of Prometheus, giver of fire. She was brought by Hermes the Giant killer himself to Epimetheus to wed with a dowry of a golden and silver jar, laden with jewels. Epimetheus was warned by his suffering brother to avoid her, but he thought with his loins, not his brain. After Epimetheus wed and bedded her, she arose. She felt impulse to open the jar to examine its contents yet held off. Day after day, the impulsive curiosity grew and grew. Until one day, she opened the ornate jar. All the evils of the world escaped to plague mankind. Jealousy. Theft. Age. Sorrow. Onions. All dreadful things were contained in that jar, and she was only able to recapture one thing: Hope.
All of men suffer angry, jealousy, and wrath. They face strife and sorrow. But due to that story, we knew and know one thing: where there is hope, there is strength. There is life. Hope never abandons us, we need to only grasp it when we can.
I realized he was my hope.
I ran fast, faster than I ever did before. I needed to catch up. I needed to be there for him. I needed him. That day, Hermes would have envied my swiftness.
I found him behind a boulder, crying. I did not know what to do, so I sat down beside him and patted his shoulder.
He looked at me and smiled, which showed his gapped teeth. How he could be so cute while depressed? I thought. Wait…what?
"Thank you. I needed a minute."
"WHAT'S WRONG?" I screamed. He stared at me. His head atilt in confusion. I was loud but I could not stand that face sad. His happiness was…no…is…my goal. I could not exist with him being sad.
"It is nothing. But…. your father did sadden me."
"WHAT DID THAT BASTARD DO? TELL ME. HE WILL PAY FOR WHAT HE DID." I stood, ready to run back to my father to make recompense.
"Hush. Relax, Achilles." He searched around for anyone who was listening. "He did not do so intentionally. The news did not reach your land, I guess."
He patted the ground next to him. I sat.
"My mother…she…she died…recently."
"Oh…my condolences."
"Thank you. She and I were close. My father thought we had too strong of a relationship. He thought she kept me from reaching his standards."
"I can understand that. You see my father's standards are beyond my reach as well."
"I do not think so. You can do anything."
I blushed.
"Why? You just met me."
"But that is why. I just met you. And from our short conversations, I know you can do anything. Your mother aside, of course. You are insightful, you entertain me. You're one of the best people I've ever met."
My cheeks could not redden anymore.
We meandered back to the city, arriving at the palace just before the Moon rose over the horizon. We entered the grand hall. Tables laid across the entirety of the floor, and they were all full of our countrymen. My father motioned for us to come over and sit next to him. He was speaking with an older version of…Patroclus. It was as if the gods aged someone fifty years.
"My son, this is King Menoetius, Lord of Opus. He is excited to meet you."
I bowed as was the custom. I looked up at him: he did not have the eyes of his son, but the facial features, hair, build…it was as if the gods aged someone fifty years.
"My king, it is a pleasure and honor to meet you and visit your fair land."
"Achilles, such diplomatic airs you possess. Your father mentioned your prowess at any sport you do. You must teach my son how to be a better son to a father. He cannot do any sport or anything well. He shames me and my land to no end. But he is my sole heir, and I cannot disinherit him."
Patroclus was still there. His face glazed over. He clearly dissociated from his father's words. Doing so meant this was not the first time.
I replied to his father, more defiant in my tone.
"Your Majesty, I just spent the entire day with your son. I have not only enjoyed every moment with him, but we are now best friends and comrades. Our countries are bound as friends for generations. He is erudite, well humored, and one of the best people I have ever met. I look forward in furthering our kingdoms' ties."
I sat down next to my father. I motioned for Patroclus to sit beside me. Our fathers glanced at each other and returned to their conversations. They had wordlessly decided to ignore my speech.
Patroclus and I ate our dinners in silence.
Later that night, my father and I went to the guest chambers. A fire was lit by the servants, and we laid beside it. I juggled and played my lyre for him. He smiled: these were the moments he enjoyed me most.
When I paused, he spoke tersely and loudly.
"Achilles, my son. I appreciate your sudden interest in diplomacy. You spoke well at dinner in defense of the boy, and you made me proud. Your acceptance, however, was not my goal in coming here. My goal was to further ties with Menoetius, not his son."
"Father, is it not fortuitous to foster generational ties?" I inquired.
"It generally would be if it were not for Menoetius's detestation. To him, the child is a disappointment and a failure. The boy is everything you are not. Menoetius did tell me it would have been better for both if the boy had never been born."
"I wholeheartedly disagree with that sentiment." I pouted: Why would a father openly detest his son? How could he be so wrong?
"Achilles, you are not yet a man. When you become one, you will see why Menoetius thinks the way he does. Now no more of this tonight."
I stood up and looked directly at my father. My father was tired, encumbered by the day and our conversation. I had to confront this error. Patroclus was the best boy I ever met.
"Father, I will honor your request except this last remark. I will keep ties with him. We are best friends. We will both become kings and our countries will bind together in friendship. This is what I have chosen, and I will not falter on this."
My father looked up and down at me. He clearly did not appreciate my defiance.
"Time for bed, Achilles."
There was a knock at our chamber door.
I awoke. I usually slept lightly when we were away from home. Unfamiliar terrains and areas made me more vigilant to my surroundings.
I looked at my father: he did not hear. The knock returned and then I heard a whisper.
"Achilles."
I opened the door. To my pleasure, it was Patroclus.
"It…it is the middle of the night…I apologize for waking you…but this is the only time I could think of where we can talk freely."
We left the guest chambers. We walked in silence until we entered the grand dining hall. The flames were gone, the embers cold and dark. We were alone. Patroclus stopped.
"Achilles, I will make this quick. Thank you for lying to my father tonight. I am incredibly grateful you did so."
"What are you talking about?" I had not lied.
"You said that we were best friends and comrades."
"I was not lying. You are my best friend." It was fact.
He stepped back and almost fell over in complete shock.
"You and I…best friends…comrades?"
"Yes." I became confused why he doubted me.
"I just…never thought someone could really like me for me. I knew we said earlier we would be friends. That happened at least a dozen of times before. But then my father would berate them until I was…alone."
He turned away.
"You confronted my father in public, called him wrong, and complimented me. That was the most kindness I have been shown in my life."
I looked at him: he lived with sadness for a long while. He and I were meant to meet by the Fates.
"Patroclus."
He faced me again.
"Do you want to be my best friend?"
He stopped to think.
"Yes."
"Then there is nothing else to say. Let us go back to bed. I will see you in the morning. Good night, best friend."
I hugged him. He hesitated, resistant. After a moment, he relaxed and returned my sign of friendship.
I let go. As I went back to my chambers, I heard him sigh and whisper aloud.
"Gods, thank you for giving me a friend."
I went away, holding back tears.