Special thanks to those reviewed my last chapter! Love you all!!

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Chapter 14

That night, Briseis and Achilles both sat on the large and soft bed in Achilles' tent, not knowing what to do...

Briseis was strained and distressed, she had been worrying the whole day for her young cousin Chryseis. She was held by Agamemnon, and Briseis knew that Chryseis was in great danger, judging by the way Agamemnon looked at young girls and women. Briseis wanted to save Chryseis. But Achilles' cousin had already tried to do so, and had been unsuccessful. Besides, Agamemnon did not even took a peep at the girl's ransom from Chryses, Chryseis' father, so how could she convince the unintelligent king to release the girl? There was no hope for Chryseis, and Briseis felt crestfallen.

But Achilles was paying no attention to the 'dangerous' situation of the girl Chryseis, as he knew that Agamemnon would not dare to lay his filthy hands on the girl, yet. Achilles knew that Agamemnon was a coward, and he would not take the girl until either Achilles or Patroclus was not threatening to him anymore. He was more worried about where Briseis' heart truly laid. Although she had promised to leave Troy and Thebe with him, she might not want to go. He had witnessed with his own eyes, that how sad and miserable Briseis was when she had told her uncle Chryses that she would not be going back to Troy, to her family. Achilles felt his blood boiled in his veins. Did Briseis love him? Had she been lying to him all the time that she love him? Was she just going to Greece with him because she wanted to save the only home of her that was left, Troy? Achilles felt furious, yet so confused. Never had a woman made him feel like this. He knew it would break his heart if he found out that the truth was, Briseis did not love him.

Maybe he should send her back to Troy, her only family. He loved her, and he should hope for her the best. And he felt so selfish keeping Briseis to himself, to let her cousins mourn for her leaving.

But no one had ever told him that love was, indeed, selfish.

Besides, he had always thought himself as selfish, and he thought many others thought so. So there would be no guilty feeling of keeping the girl to himself. She was his war prize. But he could never deny, what he felt now was, exactly, guilty. And he knew exactly what to do if he loved her. He would do it before he left this war behind, to sail back to Greece, to Phthia.

Achilles glanced sideways at Briseis. Her head was bowed down, and her soft curls were curtaining her gorgeous face. 'What are you worrying about?' He asked.

Briseis looked up, and met his blue eyes. 'Chryseis,' she murmured.

'Need not worry. Agamemnon would not touch her yet. Not until I am a threaten to him no more.' Achilles told her calmly.

'That means when you and I leave here, her safety will no longer be guaranteed?' Briseis asked nervously.

Achilles nodded silently. Briseis was very worried about her cousin, maybe she would not even let him leave Troy now. He felt so vulnerable to be in love with this girl. It seemed like every move of him could be controlled by her. 'So we must save her...' Briseis said again. 'We're leaving soon...'

'If you're willing to.' Achilles said repulsively.

Briseis frowned. What was he implying? She scrambled closer towards Achilles. He averted his gaze, pretending to examine a scratch at the back of his left hand. Why did he not look at her? Had anything happened that had drawn him away from her? Maybe he did not want her anymore...... Tears flooded her eyes as realization (although which was not true) dawned her. He had grown tired of her already. The entire thing about sailing together back to Phthia was a lie. She was just a new 'sweetheart' to him in the shores of the Trojan Kingdom. And now, he was done with her, and he would sail back to his homeland, forgetting about what had happened those days when Briseis had thought he loved her.

So, the misunderstanding between Achilles and Briseis grew deeper, and they both sat there, as still as statue.

No one knew how long they had sat there. But it should be more than a few hours, because when Briseis moved again, the moon was already high up in the sky. Weakly, Briseis lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes. Sleep had immediately taken over her as she lay there, exhausted, distressed, uncertain, and hopeless.

Achilles' eyes had followed the movement of her, but he had never moved. He stared at the sleeping figure in front of him, and started to ponder. Briseis had not responded when he added that they would be leaving if she was willing to. Instead, he had seen tears, and he knew that she was not. She wanted to stay in Troy together with her own family. How could she play with his heart? He had been told that she was willing to leave Troy the first time he asked her. But now...... The pain was unbearable. So, he did not join her in sleeping, but walked out of the tent in silence.

He looked up at the sky. The moon was shining brightly. He remembered the moon in Phthia also shone brightly, as bright as the moon here. But they were so different. Perhaps they looked so different because he had changed? Sure Briseis had changed the lad a lot.

He paced into Patroclus' tent.

The moment he entered the tent, he knew his cousin was not asleep. He stood there in silence, waiting for his cousin's welcome.

But the welcome did not come. So as any greetings.

Instead, Patroclus said, 'What can I do?'

'Do you love her?' the words came from a position that was closer to Patroclus.

'I do,' the answer came off from his mouth swiftly.

'Then, you must learn that the person you love may not always love you in return.' Achilles said coolly. 'The sooner you get over her, the sooner you will be free.'

'When have you become so intelligent?' Patroclus asked hilariously.

Achilles brought himself to chuckle softly. 'What is the underlying meaning of the words?'

Both laughed halfheartedly. They both had their own worries.

'I think we should sail back to Phthia tomorrow morning. Both of us shall leave our worries behind.' Achilles suggested.

Patroclus did not want to leave, not when Chryseis was in danger. And besides, he could sense that there was something wrong with his cousin, 'What had happened between you and the girl Briseis?'

'Nothing had happened,' Achilles said, smiling faintly under the dim light of the moon. 'I just think it's an appropriate thing to do to leave her behind with her own family.'

Patroclus made no response, but he was sure that was not the only reason. He knew his cousin would be selfish when it came to relationships. But he also thought it might be good for himself to sail back to his homeland Phthia, to join his aunt Thetis, and leave the girl Chryseis behind.

'I think I must get some rest, dear cousin. The sail tomorrow may not be a smooth one.' Said Patroclus peacefully, and closed his eyes.

Achilles left the tent, he thought he had made the right decision.

The next day, when Achilles woke up beside Briseis, he walked out of the tent straightly, trying hard not to look at the girl. And he was successful. He walked towards Patroclus' tent, but Eudorus had stopped him.

'My lord, many of our men are sick.'

Achilles frowned. 'Sick?' The Myrmidons were always strong and healthy.

Eudorus' brows had furrowed too. 'Yes, they are all in awful shape. I'm afraid that we must delay our departure.'

'Wait until the men recover. We will leave as soon as they are all in good physical shape.' Achilles said emotionlessly.

He paced through the camp of the army. The usual crowded camp was deserted, and the thick morning mist held a bleak atmosphere. Achilles felt puzzled. It did not seem like that the Greeks had gone for war, as he would have heard their departure and, besides, there were some guards over different entrances of the armies of different kingdoms. He walked over to once of the guards and asked, 'what happened?'

Achilles had sincerely hoped that Agamemnon had died in his bed, and the soldiers were mourning for him, but the answer of the guard disappointed him much, 'the men are sick.'

Achilles was a bit worried about his men. Was it a plague?

So, Achilles went secretly towards Agamemnon's ship, and stood in a dark corner. He would never enter the meeting hall, but he stood there, eavesdropping.

And to his disgust, he heard the fat and greedy voice of Agamemnon. 'No, I will never give that Chryseis girl back.' In return, an old voice said, 'You should not have brutally ordered the priest of Apollo away. The Kings had already told you to behave well to the priest, and take the ransom!' '

Our priest, the seer Calchas. Achilles realized.

Apollo's priest? Who was Apollo's priest? The vision of Briseis' uncle Chryses had reminded him of that. Chryses was the priest of Apollo. He had come to Agamemnon and had asked for Chryseis back. But was refused by Agamemnon brutally. So, Chryses should have prayed to Apollo, and asked for help. So, Apollo must had heard the old man's prayer and let black bolts of plague flew on the Greece, making them sick.

Achilles found the thing unfair. Agamemnon had offended the priest of Apollo, and now his Myrmidons also needed to suffer from the agony of the plague.

So Achilles stepped into the meeting hall which kings were discussing about the matter. All of them looked astonished by the presence of the young prince of Phthia.

'Appease the god, and return the daughter of Apollo's priest to him.' said Achilles straightforwardly, wasting no time, not knowing these words of him would angered Agamemnon so much that even Achilles himself would regret about saying them.

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Help! The conversations of the characters are so difficult to write!

I've had a hard time doing it.

So, please, review. Thanks!

Now, if I don't have 5 reviews for this chapter, I won't update! (smiling evilly)