I stared over the horizon and saw figure riding closer to and closer in the sunrise.
"Patroclus!" I called back into the house. I then gathered my skirts and ran as fast as I could toward the silhouetted figure. It took me a few minutes to reach him, and my feet were burning from the sand, but I did not care. He saw me approaching and leapt off his horse. As I reached him, he grabbed me and swung me around while placing a kiss on my forehead.
"Achilles," I laughed as I beamed up at him. He smiled down at me as well and hugged me tightly again. He lifted my light body easily with all of his rippling muscles.
"Come, let's get home, I'm sure you have much to tell me about since I have been gone."
He lifted me onto his horse and I laughed.
"Are you joking, Achilles. You know nothing exciting happens here."
We rode back to the house, where Patroclus, Achilles' cousin was waiting for us.
"My cousin!" called Patroclus as we entered the yard of sea grass. "How were those battles. Quickly I must know. How many men did you slay?"
"Calm down Patroclus!" chuckled Achilles. He was used to the younger man's eagerness to hear about the battles.
"Must we discuss death and war now, Patroclus?" I asked dismounting. "Achilles has only just returned let him rest and visit for while."
"That would be a good idea Alexa," he said patting me on the shoulder. "But the mighty warrior Achilles needs not to rest. Come Patroclus, we will see if you have been practicing with a sword while I was gone, as I tell you my tale." I watched the two of them walk off to the practice arena they had made, a pile of rocks and statues over looking the Aegean. Sighing, I walked back into the house. Achilles was a warrior, and the best in all of Greece, I had no doubt. He also had an immense amount of pride, and hungry for any glory he could find. That was the only reason he agreed to fight for Agamemnon. Achilles really despised the man, but now all of Greece was united, so I suppose it was all for the best. Out of my window, I could see in the distance my two best friends. As I watched them, an ocean breeze blew through the window and I immediately sensed the approaching caravan. I moved out to the front of our house and saw the row of bay horses making their way down path. The soldiers were all dressed in similar armor and had the same shields. The one leading the caravan, I recognized immediately.
"Odysseus!" I walked out to meet him and he smiled as he dismounted and bowed slightly. I hugged him as he was my old friend and I was not used to such formalities.
"My Lady Alexandria, you grow more beautiful every time I see you."
"You flatter me Odysseus. But tell me, why do I have the pleasure of meeting the King of Ithaca. At my door. Surely you did not only come to pay me compliments."
My friend's smile vanished for a split second, but then it returned, only this time it was uneasy. He put his arm around me and walked me away from the prying eyes of his soldiers.
"Actually, I have to talk to Achilles." I looked at him suspiciously.
"And why could you not send a messenger? Surely whatever you have to tell him could not be important enough to require your presence."
he laughed as we walked near the cliff edge, looking over the sea.
"So, are you now disappointed that I came?" I glared at him for changing the subject.
"What is this about?"
"Menalaus has recently held a banquet, celebrating the peace that was made between Sparta and Troy. Unfortunately, he generosity was taken advantage of, as well as his wife."
"What," I said and stopped walking to look at my friend straight in the face. "Has the beauty Helen of Sparta finally realized she is too good for that pig of a king?"
"I'm afraid so, and she ran off to Troy with the young Prince Paris." I have heard rumors of his abilities to seduce women, but I never thought a Queen would risk her life for him."
"Neither did I."
"But what does this have to do with Achilles?"
"Everything!" Odysseus took me by the shoulders and shook me slightly. "Don't you see? Menalaus has gone to hi brother Agamemnon and together they have raised an army of all of Greece to conquer Troy. Achilles and his Myrmidons will be the strongest asset and may be the only way we can defeat Hector and his Trojan Army."
I pulled away. "You want Achilles to go to war again? He only just got back! Agamemnon doesn't like Achilles any way, and Achilles despises him. He will never fight for that man again."
"It is not your decision Alexa. Achilles will come because Greece needs him."
Odysseus left then, to go talk to Achilles. I felt slightly better after that though, because Odysseus thought he knew Achilles. Achilles fought for no one, not even Greece. He fought for himself, and only himself.
I did not spend much time with Achilles or Patroclus the rest of the day. They went off to do their male things and I stayed at home with Achilles mother Thetis. She was unusually quiet today and I found out why that night.
I was standing outside, letting the breeze blow around my pale blue skirt. I had let my light brown hair fall down my back and stared at the waves as they crashed along the shore.
"Alexa…" I turned to see Achilles in his night robes, walking towards me. I smiled at him and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"Alexa," he said again, and I knew there was something on his mind. "You know I always think about you and your feelings. I also always consider you in every choice I make-"
"No you don't," I chuckled. He smiled again and continued.
"I know you won't like this, but I have decided to go with Odysseus and the Greeks to Troy." I felt as though a spear had been hurled at my heart.
"What?" I gasped. Visions of Achilles with arrows protruding from his chest filled my mind and tears instantly rolled down my cheeks.
"Why?"
"I was told that if I went I would be remembered for all time, and I must also fight for my country." he added the last part for my benefit but I knew him too well.
"That is such a lie!" I spat. "Do not take me for a fool, Achilles, I know you. You fight for no one but yourself."
I turned my back on him.
"So I fight for glory, what is wrong with that?"
"Achilles, stay and you shall be more glorious in my eyes than ever before," I was pleading now.
"Alexa, you know that is not what I mean. I want to be known the world over as the best warrior that ever lived."
"But you are!" I cried.
"I want to prove it!"
"To who Achilles? The Trojans? The Greeks? Or only to yourself?" I had struck a nerve and I knew it.
"Don't speak to me like that," he growled, pointing his finger in my face, trying to be intimidating. "You know nothing about me, or my life."
"And you care about nothing else," I hissed. Had anyone else said this to him, they would have had a sword in their throat in the blink of an eye. I started to storm away, but he called after me.
"I am still going, Alexa." I turned and sent dagger with my eyes. Now, tears were flowing freely and staining my tanned face.
"Then I hope you burn with Hades." He look more hurt than I have ever seen him, but I stomped away to my room.