Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, just a nice little plot that I
created of my own accord.
Author's Note: The plot of this story is not Homer's, and if you don't like it, I extend my apologies. But I hope you'll enjoy the story anyway.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
The sun was setting on the horizon, staining the clouds blood-red after the battle. Briseis had not still received the full impact of what all had happened last night. She'd lost her uncle and king, lost some very dear friends, and she's lost her beloved city and country to the heathen Greeks. Why, oh why, did the gods frown upon them so? What had they done to deserve to be stripped of title, hearth and home?
Camp was settling on the banks of the river. A fire was lit in the center, but there was no food. But Briseis' exhaustion over took her hunger. There were no tents, no blankets. She sat down on a patch of soft grass. She sighed and pushed back strands of her dark hair off her face. She heard light footsteps behind her and turned around to see. It was Andromache.
"Good evening," Briseis said, more formally than she would have. But this is the first time she had to confront Andromache after the war. It was an awkward moment. She wondered if she hated her for wanting to be with the man who had killed her husband. She looked up at her, bracing herself for any verbal blow that Andromache might utter. And for a moment, they only stared at each other.
Suddenly, Andromache threw herself upon Briseis. Falling to her knees, she embrace her cousin-in-law, almost crushing Astyanax between them. She cried onto her shoulder, her own shaking violently. Briseis embraced her in return, tears pouring from her own eyes. It did not need to be said or heard, she knew immediately that she held no contempt for her.
"Forgive me," Andromache murmured inbetween sobs. Why was she apologizing? She had no neeed. She patted her back, trying to soothe her.
"No, forgive me, cousin," Briseis said, wiping her eyes. Andromache drew back, her sobs becoming less. They looked at each other for a moment, with sympathy. But as soon as the women had stopped crying, Astyanax began to wail. Andromache held him tight, bouncing him gently and cooing.
"He cries ever so often now," she said, holding the babe to her shoulder, still bouncing. Astyanax face burned pink from the effort of squalling. "He misses his father..."
Briseis nodded, holding out her arms. Andromache handed over a very upset baby. She held him to her chest, her heartbeat under his cheek and rocked him slowly, shushing him and coaxing him for peace. With quite a lot of sniffles of discontent, Astyanax was soothed. Briseis held him in her arms. He was so tiny and beautiful and strong, she thought. Like his father. One day, I should like to have a child. Thinking that, the pit of her stomach felt like it just dropped away.
"You are a lucky woman, Andromache," Briseis said, handing back her son. She placed him on a baby blanket for sleep.
"We are both lucky, Briseis. Lucky to be alive," Andromache answered, gripping her hand as if to affirm her. Briseis nodded.
They talked late into the night. For a time, Briseis forgot her anger, despair and sorrow. But soon, people were sleeping all around them and they decided to sleep as well. Back to back, Briseis closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep. She soon fell into a disturbed one, full of memory. Her arms felt so empty, much like the night when Priam took her back into the city. But she dreamed of several nights before that...
..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..: ..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..
I was taken across the Greek camp without knowing where I was going. The soldier held my upper arm much too tightly in his hand. I winced in pain. I turned my head to look back toward the tent of Agamemnon. Where was he sending me? But any place had to be better than with him. I shuddered involuntarily. The soldier gripped my arm even tighter. Any place was even better than with that man they called Achilles. Her arm was going numb from the lack of circulation.
"Release me!" I said, attempting to pull my arm from him.
"Gladly," said the soldier gruffly. He let go of my arm, nearly throwing me. I lost balance and fell down. I growled and looked up at the man. He had some nerve. I stood up and brushed myself off, soon to be pushed aside by another man. What was going on? There were a couple more men coming toward me.
"A gift..."Said the first soldier. "from Agamemnon."
Before I knew it, I was grabbed and flung to the ground. I flayed my arms, but they were caught. I felt a cold han attempt to go up my robes.
"No!" I yelled, kicking and throwing the man back. Then another soldier pelted me into my ribs, knocking the wind from me. "No!" I cried again, trying to free myself.
"She's a tough one," said a gruff voice in my ear. "We should teach her a lesson first."
They lifted me up and set me onto my feet. Immediately, I made to run, but I was stopped by a fist into my stomach. I coughed, my abdomen stinging badly.
"Leave me be!" I cried, trying to wrench my arms away. Somebody then struck me across the face and I tasted blood. They threw me to another soldier, and I tried to run again, but he grabbed me, kicking my shins very hard. I could feel fire. I opened my eyes and there was one, and a brand sticking red hot out of it.
"...slave girl..." I heard something whisper. I saw the red brand coming toward me, and I screamed for help. But I didn't feel the burn. Instead, I heard another soldier scream in pain. I was dropped to the ground in haste, my legs didn't work for standing at the moment.
I only lay there for a moment, but a man picked me up into his arms. At first, I thought it was another soldier coming to harm me. I tried to escape the arms, but they held me fast. My efforts led me into a light unconciousness. I was just being carried away.
I woke up soon enough though, finding myself being carried into a tent. I threw myself out of the man's arms. I landed sharply on my bottom. I looked up to see who had taken me away and saw the man they called Achilles. I felt half-grateful for me saving me from the unruly soldiers, but I hated him just as much. He was arrogant and haughty, thinking everyone below him. But I would not be one of those girls he used so often. I would not succumb.
Achilles dipped a cloth into a bowl of water. He reached for me with it, attempting to clean my bleeding lip. I scampered backwards away from him. I did not need his help. He reached again and I pulled away once more. Frustrated, he threw the cloth at me. Anger welled up and I threw it in his face. He looked at me with a cold blue eye. I could care less if he was angry with me.
"Eat," he ordered, offering me a platter of food. My insides burned with hunger as I looked at the tray of fruit. I opened my mouth, but I shook my head refusing. I watched him as he turned away from me, eating himself. I moved away to a corner of the tent, holding the cloth to my lips. As soon as he was asleep, I would flee to the city. No man would hold me captive.
..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..: ..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..
Briseis fidgeted in her sleep, the dream disturbing her comfort.
Author's Note: The plot of this story is not Homer's, and if you don't like it, I extend my apologies. But I hope you'll enjoy the story anyway.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
The sun was setting on the horizon, staining the clouds blood-red after the battle. Briseis had not still received the full impact of what all had happened last night. She'd lost her uncle and king, lost some very dear friends, and she's lost her beloved city and country to the heathen Greeks. Why, oh why, did the gods frown upon them so? What had they done to deserve to be stripped of title, hearth and home?
Camp was settling on the banks of the river. A fire was lit in the center, but there was no food. But Briseis' exhaustion over took her hunger. There were no tents, no blankets. She sat down on a patch of soft grass. She sighed and pushed back strands of her dark hair off her face. She heard light footsteps behind her and turned around to see. It was Andromache.
"Good evening," Briseis said, more formally than she would have. But this is the first time she had to confront Andromache after the war. It was an awkward moment. She wondered if she hated her for wanting to be with the man who had killed her husband. She looked up at her, bracing herself for any verbal blow that Andromache might utter. And for a moment, they only stared at each other.
Suddenly, Andromache threw herself upon Briseis. Falling to her knees, she embrace her cousin-in-law, almost crushing Astyanax between them. She cried onto her shoulder, her own shaking violently. Briseis embraced her in return, tears pouring from her own eyes. It did not need to be said or heard, she knew immediately that she held no contempt for her.
"Forgive me," Andromache murmured inbetween sobs. Why was she apologizing? She had no neeed. She patted her back, trying to soothe her.
"No, forgive me, cousin," Briseis said, wiping her eyes. Andromache drew back, her sobs becoming less. They looked at each other for a moment, with sympathy. But as soon as the women had stopped crying, Astyanax began to wail. Andromache held him tight, bouncing him gently and cooing.
"He cries ever so often now," she said, holding the babe to her shoulder, still bouncing. Astyanax face burned pink from the effort of squalling. "He misses his father..."
Briseis nodded, holding out her arms. Andromache handed over a very upset baby. She held him to her chest, her heartbeat under his cheek and rocked him slowly, shushing him and coaxing him for peace. With quite a lot of sniffles of discontent, Astyanax was soothed. Briseis held him in her arms. He was so tiny and beautiful and strong, she thought. Like his father. One day, I should like to have a child. Thinking that, the pit of her stomach felt like it just dropped away.
"You are a lucky woman, Andromache," Briseis said, handing back her son. She placed him on a baby blanket for sleep.
"We are both lucky, Briseis. Lucky to be alive," Andromache answered, gripping her hand as if to affirm her. Briseis nodded.
They talked late into the night. For a time, Briseis forgot her anger, despair and sorrow. But soon, people were sleeping all around them and they decided to sleep as well. Back to back, Briseis closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep. She soon fell into a disturbed one, full of memory. Her arms felt so empty, much like the night when Priam took her back into the city. But she dreamed of several nights before that...
..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..: ..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..
I was taken across the Greek camp without knowing where I was going. The soldier held my upper arm much too tightly in his hand. I winced in pain. I turned my head to look back toward the tent of Agamemnon. Where was he sending me? But any place had to be better than with him. I shuddered involuntarily. The soldier gripped my arm even tighter. Any place was even better than with that man they called Achilles. Her arm was going numb from the lack of circulation.
"Release me!" I said, attempting to pull my arm from him.
"Gladly," said the soldier gruffly. He let go of my arm, nearly throwing me. I lost balance and fell down. I growled and looked up at the man. He had some nerve. I stood up and brushed myself off, soon to be pushed aside by another man. What was going on? There were a couple more men coming toward me.
"A gift..."Said the first soldier. "from Agamemnon."
Before I knew it, I was grabbed and flung to the ground. I flayed my arms, but they were caught. I felt a cold han attempt to go up my robes.
"No!" I yelled, kicking and throwing the man back. Then another soldier pelted me into my ribs, knocking the wind from me. "No!" I cried again, trying to free myself.
"She's a tough one," said a gruff voice in my ear. "We should teach her a lesson first."
They lifted me up and set me onto my feet. Immediately, I made to run, but I was stopped by a fist into my stomach. I coughed, my abdomen stinging badly.
"Leave me be!" I cried, trying to wrench my arms away. Somebody then struck me across the face and I tasted blood. They threw me to another soldier, and I tried to run again, but he grabbed me, kicking my shins very hard. I could feel fire. I opened my eyes and there was one, and a brand sticking red hot out of it.
"...slave girl..." I heard something whisper. I saw the red brand coming toward me, and I screamed for help. But I didn't feel the burn. Instead, I heard another soldier scream in pain. I was dropped to the ground in haste, my legs didn't work for standing at the moment.
I only lay there for a moment, but a man picked me up into his arms. At first, I thought it was another soldier coming to harm me. I tried to escape the arms, but they held me fast. My efforts led me into a light unconciousness. I was just being carried away.
I woke up soon enough though, finding myself being carried into a tent. I threw myself out of the man's arms. I landed sharply on my bottom. I looked up to see who had taken me away and saw the man they called Achilles. I felt half-grateful for me saving me from the unruly soldiers, but I hated him just as much. He was arrogant and haughty, thinking everyone below him. But I would not be one of those girls he used so often. I would not succumb.
Achilles dipped a cloth into a bowl of water. He reached for me with it, attempting to clean my bleeding lip. I scampered backwards away from him. I did not need his help. He reached again and I pulled away once more. Frustrated, he threw the cloth at me. Anger welled up and I threw it in his face. He looked at me with a cold blue eye. I could care less if he was angry with me.
"Eat," he ordered, offering me a platter of food. My insides burned with hunger as I looked at the tray of fruit. I opened my mouth, but I shook my head refusing. I watched him as he turned away from me, eating himself. I moved away to a corner of the tent, holding the cloth to my lips. As soon as he was asleep, I would flee to the city. No man would hold me captive.
..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..: ..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:....:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..
Briseis fidgeted in her sleep, the dream disturbing her comfort.