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Now here's chapter 22!!
Chapter 22
This day, after Briseis and Achilles had had their lunch, Eudorus came into the dining hall. He bent down and whispered something into Achilles' ear, and Achilles frowned, and whispered back. Eudorus shook his head, and Briseis heard him whispering something like this into his lord's ears, '... not leave... see... I've told... would not leave...'
Briseis smiled, Achilles was having one of those kings and princes which were hard to handle. 'I'm going to the garden to talk to Patroclus, while you are going to deal with some troubles.' Briseis said mischievously, and walked out of the dining hall.
Briseis wondered if Patroclus was okay. He was very quiet these days, sitting in the gardens, gazing at the sky, and Briseis knew he needed someone to talk to. She knew the young boy would never find Achilles to talk, so she knew this job was going to be hers. And of course, she sat down next to him on the marble bench.
'How are you?' Briseis asked.
'Fine.' Patroclus answered shortly.
'I recon you are not having meals with us these days.' Briseis stated.
Patroclus remained silence. 'Do you miss her?' Briseis asked, already knew the answer. 'There is no need to lie.' She added.
'You already know the answer.' Patroclus said simply, still not looking at Briseis.
'We can go and visit her.' Briseis suggested.
'I want her to stay with me,' Patroclus informed.
'Love is always selfish,' Briseis told him. 'You can ask uncle Chryses' permission to wed her. You are a fine young man. I'm sure uncle Chryses would love your pairing.'
'When are you and Achilles going to marry?' Patroclus asked, changing the subject.
Briseis shook her head. Achilles had not asked her to marry him. But she expect his propose would come soon. At least he had promised her his love, and gave her the necklace she was wearing. She touched it slightly, and remembered the night he gave it to her.
'Hey,' Patroclus' voice broke her thoughts, 'I'm going hunting with a village boy called Phaidon. He is young, but he is good at it. Are you going to come?'
Briseis frowned. 'Do you think I would come?'
They laughed, and said goodbye. Briseis wondered if Achilles had dealt with that bothersome king or prince or envoy. But she knew Achilles would find her after that, and she decided to go out of the palace for a little walk. She passed the meeting hall, and she heard a woman's voice.
'You love me, don't you?' It was a very seductive voice. Briseis froze at its words.
'Deidamia, I-' Briseis recognized Achilles' voice.
'We'd spent the night together, and I've given birth to your son. His name is Neoptolemus.' The voice, which must belong to the girl named Deidamia, said.
'You love me, don't you?' Deidamia repeated.
'I find it hard to tell you, but-' Achilles said, and was cut off by Deidamia, 'that's enough.'
Briseis stood there silently, yet she was shaking in anger and disbelieve. How could he-? Briseis wanted to cry again. Oenone had been right. Men are unsettled and unfaithful. Tears started to well up in her attractive brown eyes, and they were threatening to fall. Briseis shut her eyes tightly. Achilles was not worth crying for.
She did not run out of the palace, but walked very calmly. Her eyes were emotionless, although her heart was crying for her to scream. She walked through the beautiful courtyard, out of the gates, through the woods to the cliff. It was beautiful out there; the sun was setting, making the area of seawater near the horizon reflecting blood red light. There were clouds, high up in the sky, they were grey. The scene was a contra. Briseis imagined that it was reflecting the mood of Achilles and herself. Achilles should be feeling gleeful by now, maybe he and the girl were in a bedroom... while she was here, standing near the cliff, her heart sinking forever, non-stop.
She knelt down on the edge of the cliff, and prayed:
Oh, my mighty Apollo, is this my punishment?
Please, Aphrodite, god of love and beauty, end my agony, and make me forget about this man...
But it seemed like Apollo had told Aphrodite not to grant her the wish. Briseis was still feeling very heavy with the pain and grief.
Drip.
A drop of her own tears had fallen onto her lap, and she could not help but wept. She did not know how long she had sat there, but it had started to rain as soon as she had stopped crying.
It was raining very hard, and the ground was wet. Briseis felt quite uncomfortable sitting there. Maybe she should go back to the palace, maybe Achilles still loved her, and he was just playing with the princess Deidamia. So, she stood up weakly and decided to go back to the palace, and talked to Achilles about the matter before she made her decision.
However, Aphrodite decided to grant Briseis her wish at this moment.
Briseis stepped on a rock and slipped. Down the cliff she fell, yet she was fearless. Was there anything she will be afraid of? The last thing she heard was the loud 'splash' of the cool seawater when she hit the water surface.
....................................................
'You love me, don't you?' Achilles flinched a bit at the tone the woman in front of him was using. Briseis would never use such seductive, avaricious tone. The girl in front of him was one of those had slept with him long ago, and he had already forgotten about her. He did not even know who she was. Deidamia, she had told him her name.
'Deidamia, I-' Achilles tried to explain that he did not love her, and his heart belonged to another woman which was much more beautiful than she was.
But this Deidamia told him that she bore his child, 'We'd spent the night together, and I've given birth to your son. His name is Neoptolemus.'
So, he had a son. It was even harder for him to clean up the mess.
Achilles stared in horror at the girl's lips when the words came out from them again, 'You love me, don't you?'
'It's hard to tell you, but-' Achilles tried to explain again, but Deidamia cut him off, putting her hand on his lips to stop him talking. 'That's enough.'
Furiously, Achilles yanked her hand away, although he wanted to let the woman down kindly, he found that he could not. So, he exploded, 'Go away! I don't really care if I really gave you a son or not. If you like, I can give you gold to take care of the child. You can also send him here, for I can have someone to take care of him. How say?'
'But Achilles, I have given it up to you!' Deidamia said.
'Many have given it up to me.' Achilles said, fuming with annoyance and rage, 'I had also told you that I cannot promise you to be by you side always! I had asked if you are willing to give! The decision was up to you!' Achilles paused for a moment, catching his breath.
'Eudorus.'
Eudorus stepped forward, and opened the door. 'Lady, please.'
After the troublesome lady disappeared, Achilles strolled back to his room, hoping to find Briseis there and spend some time with his lover. He opened the oak wood door, but found that the room was empty. He shrugged a bit, and sat down on the bed. Maybe she has gone out for a walk.
But it proved him wrong when Briseis did not appear in the dining hall at dinnertime. And Achilles started to worry. He called for Patroclus. After a few lines of conversation between the two cousins, Achilles worried even more. According to the time Patroclus left the palace, it was the time when he was talking to Deidamia...
Maybe she heard something which she is not supposed to know.
'We are going to find her!' Achilles yelled out.
Patroclus stood there, puzzled by Achilles' acts,
'We're going to find your future cousin-in-law!' Achilles exclaimed, and brought some of the guards to find his lover.
They searched the woods thoroughly, but could not find the girl. There was a little farmhouse nearby, and Achilles knocked on the wooden door.
The door opened, and it was an old farmer answering.
'Have you seen a girl, with brown eyes and chestnut curls?'
'Ah, yes.' The farmer smiled and said. 'Extremely pretty, yes?'
Achilles nodded vigorously, and looked at the farmer eagerly.
'This way she went, towards the cliff. She is still there, as she has not walked back. I would have recognized her if she passed my house. It's hard for a girl like her go unnoticed by me and my wife.' The farmer said, delighted that the young prince had visited his house.
Achilles thanked him, and raced towards the cliff. He would not forgive himself if anything happened to Briseis. It was his old wanton deeds that caused the trouble after all.
And Achilles knew he had to blame himself forever when he found that there was no one on the cliff. The answer was clear: Briseis had left him forever.
Oh! Oh... So sad...
The following chapter may be a surprise to you!
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