Hi there! Here's your chapter 19!!!
To Trojans and CaDedra:
I'm delighted to know that you're starting the FF! I promise I will drop by when I have time...
Enjoy the story now...
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Chapter 19
Briseis looked up from her own chestnut brown hair to the entering of Achilles. He seemed to be in a good mood, which was not often seen those days.
'What are you smiling at?' Briseis asked.
Achilles walked over to her. 'We are sailing home today.'
'Today...' said Briseis.
Achilles assured her. 'Today.'
'Have you talked to Patroclus?' Briseis asked softly.
Achilles shook his head. 'Would you help me to do it?' he asked her softly. He sat down next to her and put his arms around her waist, hugging her to him. He kissed her temple softly, begging her to do him the flavor. 'Why don't you do it yourself?' Briseis said naughtily.
'I don't know how to handle those situations.' Achilles informed, 'Patroclus is in love with your cousin.'
'You're afraid that he doesn't want to leave her behind?' Briseis said more than asked. Before Achilles could answer, Briseis stood up and left Achilles' tent.
Briseis started to get a bit nervous when she was in front of Patroclus' tent. 'Patroclus? Are you in there? It's Briseis!' Briseis asked for the permission to enter Achilles' cousin's tent, like she had always done in troy before entering her uncle Priam's room.
Patroclus' head poked out from the flaps. Briseis could see that his face was a bit dull, not as lively as he was before. Was it because of Chryseis?
'Come in,' Patroclus said, holding the flaps to himself and made way for her.
Briseis did as she was asked to. 'What is it?' Patroclus asked.
'Have anyone informed you that we are going to leave today?' Briseis asked softly, reaching out for Patroclus' hands naturally, to her, as a gesture of comfort. Patroclus looked even wearier than he had been. He shook his head, and sat on the bed sulkily.
'Do you love her?' Briseis asked. It seemed like that every words came out from her mouth today ended with an interrogation.
Patroclus blushed a bit, but shook his head again, this time, in Briseis' eyes, ruefully. The answer was obvious to everyone. Briseis smiled bitterly. Young love... Briseis thought, not aware that she was at the same age with Patroclus.
'Would you like to see her?' Briseis suggested, paying no heed to Patroclus' response.
'No,' Patroclus lied lamely, 'besides, your proposal is too platonic.'
'It is possible, if we have time.' Briseis said, talking gibberish.
Like he was going to win a great victory in a certain war, hope appeared in the young man's eyes again. 'Really?' Patroclus asked enthusiastically. 'Wait for me. I'll be back in a moment.'
Briseis raced out of Patroclus' tent back to Achilles'. She dashed through the entrance.
Achilles was washing his face (again). Briseis hugged his waist from behind. Achilles jolted up like he was being jabbed from behind. Briseis seldom did this to him. She was quite shy and timid in some certain situations, like she had always been the passive and submissive one when it came to things like love or sex. Achilles turned and looked at the petite girl. His face was still dripping with water and he just stared at her, rendering speechless. Briseis stared back at him perplexed by his reactions.
Achilles wiped his face using his sleeve. 'Yes?' he asked, 'What is it?'
'When are we going to leave?' Briseis asked.
'Why do you want to know it?' Achilles inquired.
'I am planning to go back to Troy,' Briseis asked, watching Achilles' expression changed. 'Patroclus and I are going to see Chryseis...'
Achilles smiled relieved. 'This evening, when the sun has set, I guess.'
'Good. Are you going to come too?' Briseis asked eagerly.
Maybe it would be good to stay with Briseis. But the Myrmidons were leaving this evening, and he needed to be there. So Achilles said no, and warned Briseis to come back before evening, like he was warning a little girl who was going out to play with other children, to beware of the wolves.
So Briseis and Patroclus set off towards the edge of the beach, and found the cave which led to the oak tree in the woods at the back of the city Troy.
Briseis suited into the passageway comfortably, while Patroclus found the tunnel, which was a bit muddy and narrow, very unappealing. They hurried along the tunnel, and again, it took a long time. Becoming impatient, Patroclus started to curse a bit when they were walking in the dark, after his head had hit the rocks on the top of the passage a few times. Briseis did not response to his curses, or told him to stop. She laughed at the young man's immaturity secretly. Patroclus was so much alike with Achilles.
Briseis stopped abruptly when she knew they had reached the door that led to the dungeon of the palace of Troy. The sudden move caused Patroclus nearly stumbling on her. Patroclus cursed under his breath again, although he did not know who he was cursing.
'We've arrived.' Briseis smiled when she imagined Patroclus pleased face.
And indeed, Patroclus was delighted to know the information. Briseis pushed the hard marble door, but it did not move. She tried harder, but still, it did not move.
'What is it?' Patroclus said in the dark.
'I can't get the door open,' Briseis said, panting.
Patroclus said, 'May I try?'
So Briseis gratefully moved aside and let Patroclus to do the flavor. And the door was pushed open easily. Briseis gaped at Patroclus' strength. They went inside, and Patroclus pushed the door back to its original place.
They were in a dungeon, a room that stored the ashes of the previous kings and royalties. Briseis swiftly went to her father's place, and bowed at it.
'He's my father.' Briseis answered the question in Patroclus' heart when they exited the room. 'He loved me.' Briseis said sorrowfully.
Patroclus scratched his head, not knowing how to respond to Briseis' words. Fortunately (for Patroclus), Briseis said, 'Come, this way.'
Briseis walked through the maze-like corridors of the palace swiftly. She had been in the palace of Troy so often that she thought she knew the way even more than in the palace of Thebe. She had spent most of her days here when she was young. His father, together with uncle Chryses, would brought Chryseis and her to visit her cousins. The four children, as close as brothers and sisters, would play hide and seek in the palace. It had always been difficult to find the others, as the palace was so big. But when the days grew a bit older, they were all familiar with the place, and they would know which spot was good for hiding and which were not. They would chase each other around, not paying attention to the looks of the servants. The elder sister of Hector and Pairs, Cassandra, had always despised them of running around the palace like savages. But Cassandra was always a very loving and caring lady, and she was very mature. Cassandra treated everyone kindly, except Paris, and there was an underlying reason that Briseis could detected, although what was that about, Briseis did not know.
Briseis and Patroclus kept on walking through the corridors, and the servants and guards looked shocked to see Briseis there, together with another young man.
After a few tens of turns and twists, they reached Chryseis' bedroom door. Both Briseis and Chryseis had a bedroom in the palace of Troy, as they stayed there often.
Briseis knocked tentatively.
'Who? Is it Hector?' In came the soft and bored voice of her younger cousin Chryseis. 'Come in.'
Briseis threw open the door. 'Chryseis...' Briseis said.
Chryseis had been looking out of the window when they entered. But after she heard the voice of Briseis, she turned sharply and found that in her room stood two people that she had been missing so much those few days.
Chryseis ran to Briseis, and gave her a warm embrace. No words were said until Briseis turned, starting to leave the room, 'Chryseis, I'm going to leave Troy today. I'm going to see uncle Priam, Hector and Paris.' She gave Patroclus a reassuring pat on his left shoulder, and walked out of the large wooden door swiftly to find her dear uncle and cousins.
Briseis paced on the always familiar corridor. This was a place she called home. Her memory had held too many years of happiness taking place in here. Briseis found it quite hard to leave this place behind. But being with Achilles made her feel so special, so strong... She knew she could not ever leave Achilles too. Maybe leaving her homeland for a new place might be a new adventure for her memory.
Lost in her own thoughts and strong feelings, Briseis nearly walked passed the door leading to Priam's study room. She stopped abruptly. She did not enter the room yet, but studied the door in details. It would be the last time she was in this palace, gazing at the hard rosewood door after all. Tentatively, she raised her hand and knocked on the door softly.
'Come in,' said Priam. His voice seemed to be older and weaker than the last time she heard it, when she was telling her uncle that she had decided to be a priestess.
Briseis pushed the door open. But Priam did not look up from the letter he was holding. Briseis was not surprised by Priam, as he was always attentive, no matter what he was doing. Briseis closed the door behind her. She walked towards Priam's turned back.
'Uncle Priam,' Briseis said.
'What is it, Chryseis? You are always coming into my room these few days, after you have come back from the Aegean Camp. Is there something wrong?' Priam paused for a moment, 'although you have denied it a several times, I still know there is something wrong.'
'Uncle Priam,' Briseis said again.
Priam turned to face Briseis at last. 'Oh, Briseis, it's you.' He chuckled a bit, 'Your voice is so much alike with Chryseis'.' He chuckled a bit more, and suddenly stopped. 'Briseis?' Priam asked skeptically.
Briseis nodded and smiled as Priam's old and wrinkled face seemed to lighten up. 'Oh! Briseis! You are back at last!' Priam jumped up flabbily from his chair, and hugged Briseis. And of course, Briseis hugged the skinny old man back.
'How are you, uncle?' Briseis could see that the war was worrying Priam a lot.
'I'm fine, very fine to see you.' Priam said cheerfully.
'Why are they giving you back?' Priam added, curious to know why the Greek would give his flower-like beautiful niece back without any demand.
Briseis looked at the carpeted floor. She did not want to disappoint the man, but she had to tell him the truth, 'Uncle Priam, I'm leaving Troy.'
Priam looked sad, as Briseis had expected, but smiled at her. 'I've heard of it from Chryses. I bid you a safe journey to Greece.' Priam sat on his chair. 'Go and see Hector and Paris, sure they will have a lot to tell you.'
'Farewell, uncle.' Briseis said, and turned to walk out of the room.
'I've to pay attention to the letter, by the way,' Briseis heard her uncle muttered under his breath.
Briseis left the room wordlessly, and hurried through the corridors. It was already a few hours after noon. The time taken to walk the tunnel was too long. Briseis and Patroclus must start to go back to the Greek's camp before the sun started to set. Time was running short, and Briseis must hurry.
Briseis knocked at the oak door of Hector and Andromache's bedroom. The door opened, and revealed the caring face of Andromache. Astyanax was in her arms, and she nearly dropped her cute little baby boy when she saw Briseis. Andromache stood there for a moment, looking in Briseis' eyes, shocked by the sudden presence of her in the palace. 'Briseis!' Andromache nearly screamed out her name with joy.
'What?' in came the deep, calm and mature voice of Briseis' cousin. And before Briseis could say a word, Hector was already standing next to Andromache, looking astound too.
Three had stood there like this for a moment, looking at each other like there was no tomorrow, until Briseis broke the silence, 'Hector, Andromache...' Briseis said, smiling at them.
Without a word, Hector hugged Briseis so tightly that Briseis thought she could not breathe. Andromache did not hugged Briseis, as she was holding the baby, but she smiled and let the tears of happiness fell.
'Oh, my dear Briseis,' Andromache said, sniffing, 'I thought I can never see you again.'
'And now you are looking at me again, just like before.' Briseis replied when Hector 'released' her.
'Are you hurt?' Hector asked before Andromache could.
Briseis shook her head. 'They treated me well, my dear Hector and Andromache. There's no need to worry about me.' Briseis said, looking out of their bedroom window. She still have some little time to talk with them.
Hector patted her head, a caring structure that he always and only did to Briseis but anyone. Briseis smiled, and said, 'I come here to bid you goodbye.' Hector and Andromache were not surprised. Instead, they both nodded knowingly. 'Ah, young love.' Hector said teasingly. Briseis' mouth hung open. How did he know?
Andromache smiled and said, 'Chryseis had told us everything; so as your uncle Chryses.'
Hector kissed his young cousin's forehead. 'I wish you to have a good and happy family.' He whispered.
Andromache kissed Briseis' cheeks also. But she said, merely a whisper, 'Thanks for saving my husband's life.'
Briseis shook her head; she knew she was leaving not just because of Hector's life. She turned to the little boy in Andromache's arms, and cooed, 'How's my little Astyanax? Hope you have missed me a lot.' She kissed the forehead of the baby softly, and also Hector and Andromache's cheeks, and turned to leave.
'When the war is over, which may be very soon, we will come to Phthia to visit you.' Briseis smiled at Hector's words. He always knew what to say at the right moment. She waved at them, and ran off to find Paris.
Paris' room was near, and she reached it in a few minutes. She knocked on the door, but there was no one inside. So Briseis turned to go back to Chryseis' room to find Patroclus. She had no time left. It would be a regret not to see her most playful cousin before she left.
Briseis reached Chryseis' bedroom door, and pressed her left ear on the door, hoping that she would not disturb any romantic scenes. Fortunately, she could hear the two talking, although the words could not be heard clearly. So Briseis knocked at the door.
The door opened almost immediately, and it was Patroclus that had opened it cautiously. It was dangerous to be in the enemies' castle after all. 'We must leave now.' Briseis said hurriedly.
Patroclus looked at Chryseis miserably. Chryseis nodded.
To Briseis' surprise, Achilles' quite shy cousin walked back to kiss her own cousin in the lips. The kiss lingered for a few seconds, and Patroclus whispered, in a loving voice, that he would come back to visit Chryseis after the war ended. Chryseis cried a bit, and Patroclus wiped her tears. Briseis wanted to cry too. She knew it would be very sad to see her lover leave too. Briseis turned to walk out of the room. It would be better to wait outside of the room.
Patroclus came out very soon, followed by Chryseis. Chryseis hugged Briseis, and said, 'I wish you have a joyful life. May Poseidon bless your sail.'
The two left Chryseis reluctantly. They walked back to the dungeon to the storeroom of the king's and royalties' ashes in silent. After Patroclus had pulled open the marble door and the two entered the tunnel Patroclus hated so much, Briseis decided to break the silent. 'You've lied.' She said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.
'When? I seldom lie.' Patroclus answered bluntly, and sniffed a bit.
'You've told me you didn't love her.' Briseis teased.
'You've known the answer from the start.' Patroclus said sensitively, and Briseis was a bit shocked by his answer.
The walk in the passageway was silent, except for the frequent curses of Patroclus when he hit the top of the tunnel over and over again. Briseis noticed that Patroclus had hit the top of the tunnel a lot more than the time when they came; and he hit it even more hardly.
It must be love... Briseis realized.
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It was the longest chapter that I've ever written!
Hope it doesn't seem to be a bit dumb!
Review! Thanks!
