OH!!! Really thanks for the lovely reviews!!!!
I have never expected that they can ever reach 120!
Anyway, thanks! I will work harder on the story!
Chapter 24
Achilles led the Myrmidons, and they ran towards the gates of Chios, leaving the beach behind them. The archers were high up the city walls, and were busy shooting arrows at them. But there were no injuries, as Achilles was using the same method he used in Troy to attack this city. Thinking of Troy, he thought of Briseis again. If only he could hold her again, could kiss her again...
'My Lord!' Eudorus shouted anxiously as an arrow was shooting towards Achilles' heel. Fortunately, Achilles was in time to dodge, and the arrow stuck into the sand. Achilles smiled gratefully at Eudorus. If there was no Eudorus alerting him, he would be dead. Achilles concentrated, trying not to think of his dead lover again. Achilles pulled out the arrow from the sand, and threw it towards one of the archers up on the city walls. It went right through his armor into his chest, and he disappeared from the sight of Achilles. The Myrmidons cheered, and ran towards the gate.
The Myrmidons battered down the gate of Chios opened easily, and they went straight towards the palace. Achilles, remembering the kindness of Briseis, told the Myrmidons to kill no one in the city except those in armors. Of course, the king must to be killed, and the royalties were to be captured.
Under the leading of their young prince, the Myrmidons entered the palace effortlessly.
Achilles went into the meeting hall, and found the king of the city. Achilles bowed at him, and said, 'I did not mean to assault your messenger that day. I had lost my lover, I was in misery.' Achilles paused for a moment, and looked at the king, with pain in his eyes. 'If you like to, you can submit to us, and I can spare your life.'
The king smiled and shook his head. He was a bit old, and he reminded Achilles of Briseis' uncle Chryses. 'I will not submit to a foreign ruler, and I understand that I am not going to live.' The old king pulled out his sword. 'I am old, and even if you spare my life, I cannot live long. I have no son, no brother, and my wife had died. I am lonely in this world, and I think it is time, to join my wife in Hades' world.'
Achilles was touched at the king's words. In his heart, Briseis was already his wife, and he vowed not to marry anyone except for Briseis. However, Briseis was dead. Well, he did have a son, but he would never consider giving his throne to Neoptolemus. Achilles had decided to let Patroclus rule his country when he died.
And indeed, Achilles felt very lonely living by himself without Briseis.
The king interrupted his thoughts, 'I have some guests in my place, and I hope you not to harm them. There is the prince and princess from Eretria, Acoetes and Cleo. There is also a friend of them, who looks like the goddess of beauty herself. I don't know who she is, but please, don't hurt her too.'
Achilles promised, and walked out of the hall. He did not want to see the king die.
He wanted to tell his Myrmidons not to raid the palace, but they had gone off to do so already. Therefore, he needed to search for the three guests himself. Achilles hated to do it, he wanted to leave as soon as possible, but he had promised the king not to harm them, and he was afraid that his Myrmidons would do so. He sulked, it was a large palace, and he had to search for the three guests himself.
He looked around, and decided to look from the west wing first.
He had kicked the doors of the west room over and over again, but most of them were the rooms of the maids and servants. When he realized that he had been so stupid all the time, he grabbed one of them and asked where the three guests were. The maid, shivering with fear, told him that one of them was living in the west wing, while the other two were staying in the south wing. He told the maid to lead the others to leave the palace as soon as possible, as he did not want his Myrmidons to harm them. They were innocent.
He came to the room that one of the guests were staying, and kicked opened the door.
The room was decorated with mostly white, and it was luxurious. The sunlight was streaming into the room through the window, and the sea breeze was blowing the see-through white curtains, and the room looked wonderful. Near the window which was located opposite to Achilles, there was a maiden, kneeling on the floor, her back to him. She seemed to be praying, and was oblivious to the occurrence of Achilles.
The first sight of her made Achilles thought of Briseis. The girl had chestnut brown curls, which tumbled down her shoulders. The gesture of her made him thought of the Briseis who prayed every morning near the window when she was still in Phthia.
'Hey, girl, come with me,' Achilles said, grabbing the girl's arm, 'you'll only be safe together with me.'
The girl yanked her arm away from Achilles, and looked at him with fear and rage in her eyes. Her orbs were hazel brown, and showed all of her emotions. Those were the eyes that Achilles could recognize without a doubt. That was the face Achilles had been thinking of all those days, in his bed at night, unable to sleep. That was the face that had haunted Achilles' thoughts when he was at the beach just now. That was the face of his lover, Briseis.
Achilles stared, and stared. He could not believe his eyes.
'Do you think I will be safe with you? You're the enemy!' Briseis yelled, like she did not even know Achilles.
He smirked, If you like to act, I'm acting with you.
'No, you'll be safe in my bed...' He whispered into her ear, while drawing her near to him. To his surprise, there was only fear in his lover's eyes. The more astounding thing was Briseis screamed in panic and fright when he leaned down to kiss her.
Briseis pushed him away, and stepped back. Her actions angered him. She had led him into misery and hopelessness those days when she was not there, not caring that he was worried about her. And now, she still thought his punishments were not enough.
Burning with rage, Achilles pinned Briseis to the wall violently, and Briseis screamed again. 'Stop acting!' Achilles yelled, 'do you think that it is funny? Leading me into an insufferable agony?'
At the exact moment, the door was thrown opened and in stepped a girl with red hair. 'Briseis! Leave now! The army of Phthia had already...' The girl was panting hard, and she looked alarmed when she saw the position of Briseis. 'Briseis!' she yelled, and ran towards Achilles. The girl kicked and punched his back, but Achilles only remained there, looking down at the small girl. 'I'm going to kill you!' the girl said murderously.
'Who are you?' Achilles asked demandingly.
'Cleo, leave!' Briseis shouted, 'Leave before this man harm you!'
The girl, who was named Cleo, was screaming and crying, 'Let Briseis go! Let Briseis go! I will not let you harm her! I will not let you harm her!' Cleo kicked even harder. But Achilles only turned to look at her, his hands still holding Briseis. 'Are you Cleo?' he asked. But the girl did not answer him. Instead, she asked him to release Briseis again.
Achilles felt so confused. What was going on?
Someone stepped into the room again. This time, it was a man in the same age of Achilles himself and he had red hair. He looked a bit like the girl named Cleo. He must be the prince of Eretria, Acoetes.
Briseis proved him right as she shouted, 'Acoetes! Take Cleo and go! Now!'
When Acoetes saw the position of Achilles and Briseis, he looked alarmed. 'Release her.' Acoetes said, drawing out his sword.
'Leave!' Briseis yelled out painfully, her eyes welling up with tears.
'Do you think I will leave you to be the captive of this man?' Acoetes said, fuming as he glared at Achilles.
Achilles was jealous. Briseis was treating this unknown prince with kindness and care, while treating him, her lover, with indifference, unconcern and apathy. So he released his grip around her wrists and drew out his sword. 'You want to fight? I accept your challenge.'
'No! Briseis said, running towards Acoetes. 'You cannot win this fight. Take Cleo and go, now.' She whispered.
'How do you know?' the prince of Eretria asked quietly.
Briseis did not know how did she know it, but this man somehow seemed familiar. She seemed to remember a scene which this man was killing... 'I don't know.' Briseis said frankly, 'But I just know it.'
Acoetes frowned. 'Your words confused me. But if I cannot win this fight, at least I can hold him for a moment. You then take Cleo and go.'
'No, I can't.' Briseis said softly, reaching for Acoetes' hands. 'You have to take Cleo. She needs your protection. The palace is full of the enemies.'
About the conversation of the two, Achilles could not listen. But in his eyes, Briseis seemed to care for this man much. Anger boiled in him, and he bellowed, 'Are you going to fight?' Achilles knew it was not right to kill this man, as he had promised the king not to kill his guests. But Achilles could not hold his fury. Briseis treated Acoetes like he was her lover, and Achilles was very jealous.
Achilles held out his sword, ready to fight.
'Go!' Briseis cried, stepping in front of Acoetes as Achilles attacked. The sword slashed her left shoulder deeply, and Briseis screamed in pain. Her robe was stained with her blood immediately, and Briseis fell to the cold and well polished marble floor.
'Briseis!' The two men cried out at the same moment, and bent down to see if the delicate girl was alright.
'Go!' Briseis managed to bawl out, pushing Acoetes away. 'Cleo must be protected!'
So, having no alternative, Acoetes carried Cleo and ran out of the door. With a last look towards Briseis, he said, 'I will come back to save you!' Briseis felt relieved a bit, at least Cleo and Acoetes would be safe. She had grown care for the two these days, and she felt like they were a sister and brother to her in a different way.
Briseis felt so weak. Her strength and potency was draining from her as her blood flowed out from her wound. She felt the man shook her vigorously, yet trying-to-be gently.
'Briseis...' Achilles said softly. He would never believe that he had harmed his lover. Her usual flushed cheeks were now paler than ever, and she lay in his arms weakly. He was anxious and was panicking. He suddenly remembered that he knew something about healing. His teacher, the centaur Chiron (it was said that there would not be any medicine without him), had taught him how to mend wounds. But he had been so lazy and mischievous those days, and had not learned to do it thoroughly. But Achilles had no time to regret about it, as Briseis had already fainted.
Gently, he lifted the girl up, with her arm dangling loosely, and walked towards the bed, with her arm dangling loosely. He pulled her robe away and it revealed the wound.
It was very deep, and it appeared to be a big contra on her fair and creamy skin. Blood kept oozing out non-stop. Achilles mended the wound easily, using the bedclothes as a bandage. The blood stopped flowing out of her wound, and Achilles carried her back to his ship, leaving for Phthia at once.
Ooh... poor Achilles... He had suffered so much!
Okay, okay, I know it's a quite dramatic moment, about the scene of the two princes, but hey, it's how the way it goes...
There is something I have to explain:
When Achilles was a child, his father brought him to Chiron, the wise Centaur living in Mount Pelion, who educated him and fed him on the inwards of lions and wild swine, the marrows of bears, milk and honey. For the pious Centaur Chiron, who was not a drunkard like other Centaurs, and who never had used his weapons against a man, and who spent his Old Age learning about herbs and teaching to play the lyre to his pupils, Achilles proved to be a difficult task. For when the boy had for ever left his tender years behind him, he started wandering wherever he pleased, disobeying his teacher, and indulging in what he thought to be a good time, plundering the homes of neighboring Centaurs, stealing their cattle, and provoking a growing anger in the whole province. That is why, when Thetis, being afraid of what was being planned by fate and by Zeus who had issued his decree of war, came to Chiron to see his sweet darling son Achilles, the Centaur begged her to take him away.
Anyway, do you like the chapter?
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