Hector tapped lightly on Briseis' wooden doors. It swung open immediately
exposing a rather pale and nervous looking Briseis in a dark robe. Hector
extended a hand calloused and Briseis took it gratefully. Hector looked
down at Briseis he was deeply concerned for his cousin future.
"Come, Briseis. We will find a way,"
"Perhaps," She sighed helplessly.
The pair started down the corridor towards the king's offices. Briseis felt a sense of dread growing in her stomach. She tried to push it away. She was the warrior Briseis, she feared no one! Despite her efforts she felt despair taking over.
They stopped in front of the doors of Priam's office. Hector pushed the door and held it open as Briseis entered. Priam looked up and smiled at his son, but frowned when he saw Briseis enter.
"Hector if you have come to sway my decision. I have given my orders,"
"Father, listen. Stop being a king for 5 minutes and be a father and an uncle. Listen to the girl whose life you are destroying,"
Priam stiffened at this; he had suffered many a sleepless night over his neglect of his children. Priam sighed deeply and sat in his red over stuffed chair. The air of power and strength ebbing a way to leave Briseis looking at a sad old man.
Briseis crossed the room and knelt before Priam, taking his cold hands in her own. Hector took a seat near the far wall. The emotion in Briseis' eyes would do far more to soften Priam's heart than any words Hector Prince of Troy could speak.
"Uncle, please I beg you to listen."
"You have my ears young Briseis. Though I promise nothing,"
"Thank you Uncle. Achilles is a great fighter, my equal. You know this, which is why I was sent to kill him. Something happened that was not intended. I fell in love. I have broken my vows."
Priam shifted uncomfortably.
"Apollo will not be happy..."
Briseis raised a hand to silence Priam.
"I believe he will be happy for me. The path of a priestess was never one I was destined to tread. Achilles has vowed to fight for Troy and live here with me. Uncle if you care not for my happiness, think of the strategic gain for Troy. We are losing this war."
Priam sighed it was true. Achilles would be a great asset.
"What is to stop him from turning his back on us. He is not bound to Troy."
"No, he is bound to me. He is my husband, Uncle and I am bound to Troy. I will fight for Troy. I am a warrior. Does it not make sense that I should love someone as strong as I?"
Priam felt his resolve slipping away. He wanted to see Briseis smile again. He wanted her to be happy. Maybe his brother had been right. Briseis was destined to tread a special path.
"Achilles will be released. Now leave an old man in peace."
Briseis hugged her uncle tightly and kissed his cheek. She run to Hector and threw her arms around his neck. Hector picked her up and spun her around like he used to when they were children. Briseis broke away from his embrace and ran towards where Achilles was being held, Hector right behind her.
"Come, Briseis. We will find a way,"
"Perhaps," She sighed helplessly.
The pair started down the corridor towards the king's offices. Briseis felt a sense of dread growing in her stomach. She tried to push it away. She was the warrior Briseis, she feared no one! Despite her efforts she felt despair taking over.
They stopped in front of the doors of Priam's office. Hector pushed the door and held it open as Briseis entered. Priam looked up and smiled at his son, but frowned when he saw Briseis enter.
"Hector if you have come to sway my decision. I have given my orders,"
"Father, listen. Stop being a king for 5 minutes and be a father and an uncle. Listen to the girl whose life you are destroying,"
Priam stiffened at this; he had suffered many a sleepless night over his neglect of his children. Priam sighed deeply and sat in his red over stuffed chair. The air of power and strength ebbing a way to leave Briseis looking at a sad old man.
Briseis crossed the room and knelt before Priam, taking his cold hands in her own. Hector took a seat near the far wall. The emotion in Briseis' eyes would do far more to soften Priam's heart than any words Hector Prince of Troy could speak.
"Uncle, please I beg you to listen."
"You have my ears young Briseis. Though I promise nothing,"
"Thank you Uncle. Achilles is a great fighter, my equal. You know this, which is why I was sent to kill him. Something happened that was not intended. I fell in love. I have broken my vows."
Priam shifted uncomfortably.
"Apollo will not be happy..."
Briseis raised a hand to silence Priam.
"I believe he will be happy for me. The path of a priestess was never one I was destined to tread. Achilles has vowed to fight for Troy and live here with me. Uncle if you care not for my happiness, think of the strategic gain for Troy. We are losing this war."
Priam sighed it was true. Achilles would be a great asset.
"What is to stop him from turning his back on us. He is not bound to Troy."
"No, he is bound to me. He is my husband, Uncle and I am bound to Troy. I will fight for Troy. I am a warrior. Does it not make sense that I should love someone as strong as I?"
Priam felt his resolve slipping away. He wanted to see Briseis smile again. He wanted her to be happy. Maybe his brother had been right. Briseis was destined to tread a special path.
"Achilles will be released. Now leave an old man in peace."
Briseis hugged her uncle tightly and kissed his cheek. She run to Hector and threw her arms around his neck. Hector picked her up and spun her around like he used to when they were children. Briseis broke away from his embrace and ran towards where Achilles was being held, Hector right behind her.