A/N: So so so sorry about the delay in posting this chapter! I just moved back home to my parents for the summer, and their computer always has a breakdown if you just stare too much at it. Ugh, really hate 'modern' technology sometimes. I've been really stressing to post this chapter so I hope you appreciate it!
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Chapter five
The maze of Aglyphia
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"Welcome Briseis. I'm Thetis."
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Briseis instantly saw a great resemblance to Achilles in the woman standing before her. She was an aging woman, but still very much beautiful, the most striking of her features being her hair cascading down her shoulders. Briseis self-consciously brought a hand to her own hair, which hadn't been washed for days, and could nearly not get her fingers out trying to straighten out the stubborn, messy tangles in it.
Suddenly small cough echoed weakly through the cave and brought Briseis' attention to another man's presence- someone who seemed vaguely familiar.
"If I may interrupt this moment of gawking awkwardly at each other," the man said dignified.
"Then I would like to introduce myself. I am Dionysus."
The former Trojan priestess instantly recognised the man she had heard so many stories of. The mighty God of wine, agriculture and fertility of nature. Dionysus
The God did not linger in continuing his speech directed to Briseis in a very effective manner.
"I was sent here to give you your orders, tell you what you must do to be able to be with your.. departed lover again."
Though Briseis knew the granting of a wish like this wouldn't come without having to give something back, she was still caught off guard and began to worry if the task she was about to receive would be too much for her to handle. But disregarding the woman's worried expression, Dionysus once more continued.
"Apollo has long been having some difficulties with the goddess Hera. It seems that she has stolen a very precious artifact from him, I don't know I you've heard of the Aglyphian necklace?" Briseis carefully shook her head as Dionysus turned to face her.
"Well anyway, the necklace has the power to grant one wish to the one in possession of it. Hera stole it from him after they got into a row, and now she won't let him get it back. This is where you come in, Briseis."
The direction Dionysus' story was taking did not seem promising to scared woman he was addressing, but Briseis tried non the less to conceal her fears.
"It seems Hera has created some sort of maze around the necklace. One that only mortals can enter. Your task will be to get this necklace from the maze, and in return, Apollo will allow you to use it once. To grant your wish of becoming a nymph so that you can live together with your Achilles once more."
Briseis' mind was so confused by all the information she had been given, but most of all she was afraid. What if she couldn't retrieve this necklace for Apollo, what would happen to her then? But before she could take her trail of thoughts any further, Thetis stepped out of the shadows of the cave to reach her hand out to Briseis.
"And this is where I come in, dear Briseis," Thetis said, smiling gently at her.
"I will be your guide on this journey should you experience too much difficulties. And remember: Hera will attempt anything to make your quest unsuccessful, so be aware."
"But-"Dionysus pointed his finger to the sky, frowning his brow in a strict schoolteacher-like manner before he continued. "There is an upside to all of these tasks. You will not be performing them alone."
The next turn of events had caught Briseis completely off guard, it had happened so fast. The ground beneath her had started to shake faintly, like a small earthquake. Simultaneously both Dionysus and Thetis had disappeared into thin air. Then she had started to sink. Her instinct had told her to grab for anything she could hold on to, and suddenly she found herself hanging from a mountain cliff, so high above solid ground the trees below looked like tiny, green flowers. But what ultimately caught her attention was the fact that there was another person clinging on to the mountain cliff right next to her. Achilles.
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A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviewers who took the time to read my story even though there are so many great stories posted on this site! And sorry Bebiixstarr and Field of view, I didn't leave your names out purposely in the last chapter, I just forgot. (I really wasn't kidding when I said I had the memory capacity of a gold fish.) So I'm thanking you twice as much this time! Continuing to list the names of all my reviewers because I think anyone who is willing to take the time to review my story deserves all the attention they can get! Lady Bulma Ishtar, Dizzy Izzy (great ideas! I'll be using some of then later on in the story) Penny Lane 1776, Mrs. M (love your reviews, so uplifting!) Binx (thank you!) Lisa Midnight Oceans, Shorty51, Nora17 (hmm, just wondering: are you Swedish? Just not so many people who write 'hej' in any other countries:)) Cassie, NightbirdSongbird (My story is only partially true to the movie, however much it slaughtered everything in the Iliad, but thanks for the information) Bunny Bunz, OrliNkeira, Seishi Sairensuno, Achilles is HOT.
¤¤¤¤¤
Chapter five
The maze of Aglyphia
¤¤¤¤¤
"Welcome Briseis. I'm Thetis."
¤¤¤¤¤
Briseis instantly saw a great resemblance to Achilles in the woman standing before her. She was an aging woman, but still very much beautiful, the most striking of her features being her hair cascading down her shoulders. Briseis self-consciously brought a hand to her own hair, which hadn't been washed for days, and could nearly not get her fingers out trying to straighten out the stubborn, messy tangles in it.
Suddenly small cough echoed weakly through the cave and brought Briseis' attention to another man's presence- someone who seemed vaguely familiar.
"If I may interrupt this moment of gawking awkwardly at each other," the man said dignified.
"Then I would like to introduce myself. I am Dionysus."
The former Trojan priestess instantly recognised the man she had heard so many stories of. The mighty God of wine, agriculture and fertility of nature. Dionysus
The God did not linger in continuing his speech directed to Briseis in a very effective manner.
"I was sent here to give you your orders, tell you what you must do to be able to be with your.. departed lover again."
Though Briseis knew the granting of a wish like this wouldn't come without having to give something back, she was still caught off guard and began to worry if the task she was about to receive would be too much for her to handle. But disregarding the woman's worried expression, Dionysus once more continued.
"Apollo has long been having some difficulties with the goddess Hera. It seems that she has stolen a very precious artifact from him, I don't know I you've heard of the Aglyphian necklace?" Briseis carefully shook her head as Dionysus turned to face her.
"Well anyway, the necklace has the power to grant one wish to the one in possession of it. Hera stole it from him after they got into a row, and now she won't let him get it back. This is where you come in, Briseis."
The direction Dionysus' story was taking did not seem promising to scared woman he was addressing, but Briseis tried non the less to conceal her fears.
"It seems Hera has created some sort of maze around the necklace. One that only mortals can enter. Your task will be to get this necklace from the maze, and in return, Apollo will allow you to use it once. To grant your wish of becoming a nymph so that you can live together with your Achilles once more."
Briseis' mind was so confused by all the information she had been given, but most of all she was afraid. What if she couldn't retrieve this necklace for Apollo, what would happen to her then? But before she could take her trail of thoughts any further, Thetis stepped out of the shadows of the cave to reach her hand out to Briseis.
"And this is where I come in, dear Briseis," Thetis said, smiling gently at her.
"I will be your guide on this journey should you experience too much difficulties. And remember: Hera will attempt anything to make your quest unsuccessful, so be aware."
"But-"Dionysus pointed his finger to the sky, frowning his brow in a strict schoolteacher-like manner before he continued. "There is an upside to all of these tasks. You will not be performing them alone."
The next turn of events had caught Briseis completely off guard, it had happened so fast. The ground beneath her had started to shake faintly, like a small earthquake. Simultaneously both Dionysus and Thetis had disappeared into thin air. Then she had started to sink. Her instinct had told her to grab for anything she could hold on to, and suddenly she found herself hanging from a mountain cliff, so high above solid ground the trees below looked like tiny, green flowers. But what ultimately caught her attention was the fact that there was another person clinging on to the mountain cliff right next to her. Achilles.
¤¤¤¤¤
A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviewers who took the time to read my story even though there are so many great stories posted on this site! And sorry Bebiixstarr and Field of view, I didn't leave your names out purposely in the last chapter, I just forgot. (I really wasn't kidding when I said I had the memory capacity of a gold fish.) So I'm thanking you twice as much this time! Continuing to list the names of all my reviewers because I think anyone who is willing to take the time to review my story deserves all the attention they can get! Lady Bulma Ishtar, Dizzy Izzy (great ideas! I'll be using some of then later on in the story) Penny Lane 1776, Mrs. M (love your reviews, so uplifting!) Binx (thank you!) Lisa Midnight Oceans, Shorty51, Nora17 (hmm, just wondering: are you Swedish? Just not so many people who write 'hej' in any other countries:)) Cassie, NightbirdSongbird (My story is only partially true to the movie, however much it slaughtered everything in the Iliad, but thanks for the information) Bunny Bunz, OrliNkeira, Seishi Sairensuno, Achilles is HOT.