She turned side to side. No rest, no peace, her mind couldn't stop working.

She saw him in her dreams, holding her hand teaching her how to braid her hair, laughing with her: Hector. How she loved her dear cousin above all, above everyone else, she loved him with her heart. Her dreams were strange, she saw herself in the middle of the beach by Apollo's temple. He was waiting for her on top of the magnificent stairs , his hand reaching for her as his mouth whispered her name. She smiled and began walking towards him " Hector" Yet as soon as she was about to touch him, she felt someone pulling her hand and she turned surprised, angered. Who would dare to stop her from reaching her prince? " Achilles" Her frown was replaced by a smile, and warmth spread throughout her heart and body. She held his hand tight and then she heard him calling " Briseis…cousin" She looked back at Hector and tried to go to him, he held her back. She let go of his hand and ran to her cousin, then as soon as she was about to reach him, she turned and went back to his lips. She was lost.

He looked at her body thrashing around and wondered what on earth and heaven was going on in this woman's dreams to make her move so damn much. He supposed her moving was why he threw all women out of his bed when he was finished with them. But he couldn't do that to her, she was far to precious to him, and her body was simply exquisite to look at, even if it wasn't letting him sleep. Then he heard her whisper a name, softly at first, the louder and louder " Hector" Rage filled his heart. Why was she whispering the name of the Trojan prince? He had assumed she was royalty, he was sure of that. Could she be something of his ? His friend? His lover? His wife ? He knew not, but the thought of his woman belonging to someone else drove him mad, and the rage that tormented his soul on the battlefield filled him once more. Then he heard her again " Achilles" and a smile spread on her face. He touched her cheek, her swollen lip where his soldiers had hit her was heeling. Had anyone kissed those lips before him tonight ? He had been arrogant to think that he was her first kiss, he knew now for sure that he was the first man she slept with, but he did not know if he was the first man to be in her heart ? If he was in fact in her heart at all. She whispered Hector's name once more.

" make up your mind silly woman" he yelled at her. She did not awake. He got out of bed. Quickly he found his blue robe and threw it on. He felt vulnerable, for the first time in his life he was vulnerable, at the hands of a woman. The gods were playing games with him. He had never feared the sword, the sting of pain, the blood, the cries, the cruelty of men, and now he feared the rejection of a woman.

He sat at the foot of the bed all night, looking at her. Watching her sleep and move carelessly throughout his bed. Suddenly the beautiful stillness of his tent was ruined when his loyal soldier came in and asked for his presence outside. He looked at her once more as he rose. It was late in the day. Did she plan on sleeping forever.

He left at last. She felt relieved. She had felt him watching her, his eyes far too passionate over her body, she could have felt them thousands of miles away, and so close to her body they scorched her just like his hands had done the night before. Never did she think such feeling would be possible, at one point during the night when his hands had touched places she didn't even know existed, she thought for sure " This must be torture, I will die of pleasure and joy" He was so different in their bed than out there in the world outside their tent. Their bed, their tent, their love. Great she had fallen in love in one night, in one minute, when her eyes had met his, when he had smelled her hair, when she had felt his hands cutting her ropes, she had fallen in love. Slowly she began opening her eyes, hoping to escape the thoughts clouding her head. She stretched her hands far above her head and moved her legs slowly.

" Ow" she whispered to herself.

" what pain ails you priestess? " he spoke. She looked at him surprised. She had not felt him return and yet there he was sitting in front of her. His hands on his knees, his hair tussled and his brows thoughtful.

" Nothing" she answered slowly. Suddenly she was filled with embarrassment, remembering how many times she had run her hands through that beautiful hair of his last night, how many times she had kissed his brows and hung on to his hands as she lost herself in him. Apollo save her from making a fool of herself now. She blushed and looked down. She was covered merely by a small piece of cloth that had served to warm her body throughout the night, although most of the heat had come from him.

" Is it your thoughts that hurt you or is it your body? "

She frowned at his question. She didn't understand. She pulled the blanket closer to her and covered her shoulders, falling deeper in the bed.

" A bit late to cover yourself don't you think?" he said arrogantly. She felt yet another pain, this one in her pride. He was making fun of her, of her easiness, of her willingness to give herself to him. Did he not know how much it had cost her to allow him to touch her like that? Did he not know that she had given up everything she had worked for her whole life to him in a few hours?

He spoke again, this time his voice was louder, angrier " What ails you? Tell me"

" I hurt"

" Where ?"

She blushed and looked down.

" I don't think I was too rough on you, you should be able to take whatever pain you are feeling, I'm sure it is not much."

" I did not complain of any pain, you insisted on knowing." she said angry at his briskness.

" You complained" he said as he rose from his chair and began walking around the room.

" Why do you speak to me so ?" she asked defiantly.

" How is it I speak to you ? "

" As though I have wronged you"

" haven't you? "

" I do not remember doing so"

You spoke another man's name last night in your dreams, while you shared my bed, while you were in my arms.

She remembered then, her cousin. She had seen him in her dream, danger must be around him. Sweet hector of my heart, she though filled with affection at her cousin's memory.

" Hector" she spoke looking directly at his blue eyes.

" The one"

" And what of it? Am I not free to dream of who I please?"

" what are you of his? She did not answer. She looked at him patiently. What was that in his eyes? Arrogance? Definitely. Anger ? Certainly. Jealousy ? Perhaps. She smiled.

" I am his cousin" she whispered.

His anger diminished as he looked at her thoughtfully.

" No matter, a woman will never speak another man's name in my bed"

" I cannot control my dreams. I'm sure you can as you seem to be able to do anything in this world o mighty Achilles" she said rising from the bed, the sheet falling to cover her body.

" Do not taunt me Briseis" he said as he approached her.

She looked down at her hands holding tightly on the sheet that protected her from his gaze.

"I'm sorry"

He came closer and pulled her chin up to look at her eyes, then her lips. He bent his head and kissed her. His hands reached up to hers as he pulled the away from the blanket. It fell to the ground and he looked at her body. She wasn't ashamed nor embarrassed. His eyes were not filled with anger nor rage anymore, they were warm and seductive. His hand caressed her shoulder, moving down to her arms, her belly until they reached her legs and he swooped her in his arms. He threw her on the bed and crushed himself against her. Hurriedly she began taking his robe off, anxious to touch his body once more. She felt his skin against her and moaned at the pleasure it cursed through her body. She was both blessed and cursed. She kissed his forehead, his eyes, his cheeks, and sucked on his lips trying to take him within her forever. As he kissed her breasts, she whispered against his ear " Achilles". He smiled against her skin. She moaned his name over and over against him. Proving to him that he was the only one in her mind, in her heart.

Hours later, they laid in a messy bed, the sheets curled against them sticking on their sweaty bodies. He was behind her, his arms entangled in her slight body, the strength with which they held her almost painful. She merely laid there, content to be in his arms. She sneaked her fingers between his and kissed his hand. And what of her dream ? Why was she so lost between Hector, her beloved cousin, and Achilles her beloved everything?

If only she knew what the future held perhaps she would have kissed him once more and lost herself in him once more, just once more she would have loved him to remember what it felt like to love.