W00ty w00t w00t!! I'm feeling so much better!! My sinuses have cleared, and I feel ready to write a good long chapter. I'm not letting myself off until I'm past 7 pages of writing!! Okay, here we go:

...Okay here we really go...

Chapter 7

Agamemnon came out of his tent smiling when he heard that Achilles and his men were ready to sail. He squinted his lumpy eyes at the shoreline, where a large ship docked. So this was the ship Achilles was to leave on! It had beautiful masts, and the sails were adorned with Ares, the God of War. It was a fine ship indeed.

Suddenly, realization hit Agamemnon. Of course it was a fine ship! It was his ship! His prized vessel, Persephone! It was the finest ship in all of Greece, but what was Achilles doing on it?

On board the ship, Achilles surveyed the land before him. Many of the men who were staying behind had come out to wish him well and see him off. Many had looks of hopelessness on their faces. In the bright sunlight, Achilles turned, and caught sight of Agamemnon. Achilles smirked. 'Good.' He thought. 'The great King will see me off.'

"Sir?"

Achilles turned, and found one of his Myrmidons facing him.

"My lord, we are ready to set sail." The man said.

Achilles nodded, and turned back to Agamemnon. Raising his spear above his head, he shouted, "I will meet you in Hell!"

Agamemnon spitted with rage as he watched Achilles yell him down. 'That bastard!' he thought savagely. But he had more pressing matters on his mind. His Persephone was going to leave in the hands of that monster!

"Stop him!" Agamemnon yelled to his soldiers. "He's taking Persephone! Stop him!"

The soldiers rushed forward reluctantly, not wanting to stop a gigantic ship. They lazily poked their spears at it before feigning defeat.

"You fools!" Agamemnon screeched, rushing down to the ship, his belly jiggling. "Stop him!"

It was too late, of course. Persephone had already sailed out to sea, and on top of her, Achilles stood, gazing back at Agamemnon triumphantly.

Briseis glanced around the cabin nervously. It was a fine ship; very clean and neat. But there was an air of edginess that hung around it. She had boarded it with Achilles, but he immediately left afterwards to gaze out into the land. She was left alone in this large cabin filled with fine things that she'd never seen before in her life.

There were goblets that were adorned with rubies, wooden chests that were encrusted with gold; the tables and chairs were all finely carved with care, and were most likely mahogany. And the bed! It was the greatest thing Briseis had ever seen! It was possible that the mattress was made out of goose feathers! For someone who had slept on a mat on a hard ground for the past few weeks, this was welcoming for her.

But aside from the great rooms, there were the men. The moment she'd set foot on the ship, the men leered at her, they had groped her and said things to her that made her uncomfortable. Once she was in Achilles' cabin, she could hear them talking to him, asking him if they could have a 'go' at her.

The door suddenly opened, and Briseis started, for she had been deep in thought.

Achilles entered, looking very satisfied with something. Briseis immediately got off the bed to make way for him, if he wanted to lie down.

Instead of lying down, though, Achilles grabbed a chair and sat in it, surveying her.

Finally, Briseis spoke, a bit unnerved at this staring. "I think I would do best to sleep beside the door," she said, not meeting his piercing gaze.

Achilles didn't respond. Briseis kept going, feeling awkward.

"I could guard the door." She looked up at him, feeling even more uncomfortable.

"Who do you think wants to attack me?" Achilles finally said, chuckling. "I am Achilles. No one dares attack me."

Briseis nodded submissively.

"No, you will sleep on this bed." He said, patting it fondly.

Briseis looked up, confused.

"Where will you sleep?" she asked, looking around for another bed.

He didn't answer; instead, he smirked at her, and stood up.

"I have business to attend to." He told her. "Do not leave this room."

Briseis sighed as the door shut behind him. She felt slightly neglected and very annoyed at being told not to leave a certain place all the time. After all, this was the first time she'd ever been on a ship.

"I think I will explore my surroundings." She thought, standing up. "Besides, Achilles will not return for quite a while. Most likely, he has gone to find some female company."

She opened the door defiantly and strode out of it, feeling excited and disobedient. But it felt good.

The ship was quite disappointing to her as she explored it. Briseis had been told stories as a little girl about grand vessels that killed its enemy, and she expected this ship to be like those that she'd heard of. But there were no beautiful canopies or fine artwork covering the walls. There were only planks of wood, brown and ugly. The only decoration she saw was the name 'Agamemnon' on some of the sails, and others, the God of War, Ares.

"Silly of me, to think that stories were true," Briseis thought dully. "You're not a little girl anymore, Briseis!"

Suddenly, she heard something that appealed to her ears. It was music! It was beautiful music, very light and playful. She walked in the direction from which it came, and came upon stairs leading down to a room that was filled with laughter and merry talk.

Briseis tread down the stairs, anticipating what waited for her. She gasped, delighted. It was a cellar, but not dusty at all! There were many men dancing with women, most likely women they'd picked up in Troy. No matter though, for they all looked cheerful. The music was from a lute and tambourine, played by two men who were also singing. Briseis looked around happily, spotting men drinking wine and eating apples, chatting away unconcernedly. So this was where the action was!

Briseis was suddenly grabbed by a man wearing a scarf around his neck, who said lightheartedly, "Join me for a dance, good lady?" Briseis smiled shyly, and accepted.

The man was very good looking, and unlike many of his fellows, he did not appear drunk. He swept Briseis to the middle of the dance floor, and the two of them bowed to each other. Many others stopped dancing to watch.

Briseis felt joyful for how much fun she was having. As a slave child, she'd watched her masters holding parties, and the guests dancing, but she'd never dreamed that she would be here, dancing with this good looking man! Somehow, she knew how to move to the music, how to move her arms and legs, and sometimes her hips.

As soon as the fun started, it stopped.

A hush fell over the crowd, and the music stopped playing. Briseis, unconscious to the fact that a newcomer had joined them, kept dancing, until she bumped into someone.

She stopped and looked up.

It was Achilles.

Briseis had seen Achilles angry on several occasions, but never like this. He looked slightly mad, and his eyes were popping out. His lips were tight and his gaze was fierce.

"What do you think you're doing?" he yelled, grabbing her arm and twisting it.

Briseis cried out and tried to free her hurting arm from his grasp, but he was too strong. He grabbed her hair with his other hand and wrenched her from the dance floor, up the stairs.

Achilles didn't speak to her as he half pulled; half dragged her back to the cabin. Briseis was crying; she knew she was going to get hit. "I'm sorry!" she cried, her voice choking.

They reached Achilles' cabin, and Achilles kicked open the door. He flung Briseis through it, and she fell on the bed, crying, and trying to prepare herself for the blow.

Achilles stood in front of her, breathing hard.

"I thought I told you to stay in the cabin?"

Yay-yay! I told you Achilles' would get meaner!! For those of you who are waiting for them to actually start liking each other...I'm so sorry...I'm one of those people who has to make them draw out for a loooong time...I don't like it when they jump into it after two days of hating each other.... know what I mean?

Thanks to the reviewers:

Child of Morning: I'm better now, thanks!

Natalie Hudson

anonymous: aww...I know..it was sad =C

baphomet: it might be a good thing! ::evil grin::

Trojans: I agree! they are so adorable!!

Donna Lynn

MidNiGht ANgel10

jaylis: thanks! =D

no-girl: si!

R E Rakel: stupid fanfiction police...::grumbles::

Meg

dizzy izzy

Wow...that was a lot! I love you guys!! Don't forget to review!

-enjorli