Hello....Thanks for the reviews!
There's a new story of mine, please drop by too, if you have time....
The first thing to do now, is read....
Chapter 28
Patroclus opened the door, and was quite stunned to see his cousin standing out there. Achilles looked His face was expressionless, but Patroclus knew that his cousin was worried, and he could sense that his cousin was also angry and troubled. Patroclus smiled. It must be about Briseis again.
'Hello, dear cousin,' Patroclus greeted, 'how fortunate to have you visiting me tonight, instead of chasing after that certain chestnut brown haired girl.'
'Help.' The word was simple, yet it revealed how helpless and disturbed Achilles was.
'What is it again this time?' Patroclus asked, like the same situation had happened many times already.
'This Acoetes, prince of Eretria,' Achilles said uneasily, stepping into Patroclus' room, 'he is after Briseis!'
Patroclus closed the door. He was trying so hard not to laugh. Achilles had found him every time he needed help on courting Briseis. He wondered how Achilles could rule Phthia so easily while he was so useless when it came to the woman his cousin loved so much. It was not like Achilles had never chased after a girl. Instead, Achilles was very experienced. He had had many lovers (so as he called) before, and Patroclus, comparing to Achilles, had very little experience about it. Chryseis was the first girl he had ever set his eyes on.
'So?' he asked.
'So?' Achilles asked him back. 'What am I going to do? Maybe tomorrow Briseis will follow this guy to his ship without a word and he would ship her away, and not letting me see her forever!' The words went straightly out of Achilles' mouth without a pause.
Patroclus could not bear it, he had been already shaking with trapped laughter when Achilles stepped into his room, and now, after he heard those ridiculous words from Achilles, he could not help but laugh.
'What are you laughing at?' Achilles asked, enraged.
Patroclus could not help himself, but he was laughing too hard that he could not stop. After a while, when Achilles had thought of what he had just said, he started to laugh too. He had been so foolish; Briseis would not leave him without saying goodbye. Briseis was too kind and gentle, or polite. She would not leave without a word of gratefulness after being a guest in someone's place so long.
When both had calmed down, Patroclus finally said, 'she likes you. I know it.'
'Like? What do you mean by like?' Achilles said, confused, 'Briseis likes everyone!'
'Have you given her the rose?' Patroclus asked. Last time, before Achilles gave Briseis the rose without the thorns, he had brought the rose to Patroclus first, just to ask if it was alright to give the girl the flower.
'Of course! Why would I be showing you that if I'm not going to give it her?' Achilles said rhetorically.
'I think she should, at least, have gotten a hint from it.' Patroclus said, 'Maybe she's now dazing at the flower dreamily in her room now.'
And indeed, Briseis was. And in fact, she had been staring at the flower since she entered her room after dinner with Achilles and Acoetes. She knew it herself; she had some, maybe a bit of romantic feelings towards the young prince of Phthia. She knew she should not, as she had devoted herself to the Sun God. But she could not help it. And the feeling towards Achilles was familiar, like she had experienced it before. But how could it be? She had never met Achilles before. Besides, she was sure that she had loathed Achilles with all her heart the first few days when she had met him.
She closed her eyes, and rested her head in her hands. She started to think of Achilles again. How could she resist him? His eyes were so engaging... They were so clear, and it seemed like they could suck in her soul, or made her drown into them. Briseis also loved the way he smiled at her. It made her feel so safe, so protected, and so special. The way he gave her the flower, she loved it too. She had even kissed his cheek...
Briseis wanted to scream out. She felt so overwhelmed. Her feelings were trapped inside her, screaming to come out: fear of breaking her vow towards Apollo; and the worry of her feelings towards Achilles was more than a little crush; or the dread of how would Achilles react when he found out her feelings towards him. Would he love her back, just as she loved him?
No! It's not love! It's merely a crush! Briseis reminded herself, trying to control her own feelings.
Briseis suddenly wondered when Acoetes would be leaving... Maybe it would be good if she leave for home now... At least she would not break her vows towards Apollo. She could get over Achilles very soon (so as she believed).
Wearied, Briseis went for a bath in the bathroom in her room and drifted into a deep slumber once she lay on the bed. She started to dream of a certain blonde haired and blue eyed prince of Phthia...
Briseis was holding a candlestick. In front of her was a large and chubby man dressed luxuriously.
She did not know what she was doing, she was moving by herself. She gathered her strength and hit the man's head hardly; using the silver candlestick she was holding.
A loud sound was produced, and the fat man lay on the wooden floor, completely knocked out.
She looked at the other man lying beside that one she had just knocked out. It was Achilles! He smiled at her softly and weakly. Was he harmed? Briseis observed Achilles. There was a dagger in his heel, and blood was flooding out from the wound, staining the carpet.
She ran towards him, and hugged him to her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes. Achilles reached for her face, and tried to wipe away her tears. But she closed her eyes and turned her head away. 'Why must you come to save me? You should have left with your Myrmidons...' Briseis said sorrowfully, and let her tears fell.
Drip. There was one drop on Achilles' cheek. Achilles rested his head on her chest, and whispered, 'because, I love you.'
Briseis let another tear fell, and Achilles closed his eyes...
'No!' Briseis screamed loudly, and opened her eyes. She was lying on the warm, soft bed, in a room in the palace of Phthia. Briseis sat up a bit, and panted. Was it a dream? Certainly. But it seemed so real, like it had happened before, and she had seen it with her eyes. Or, was it a forecast? That meant Achilles would die sooner or later!
No! I cannot let him die! Briseis thought anxiously, and scrambled out of bed.
It was very late at night, and the moon was high. The moonlight danced on the carpeted bedroom, and, still in her nightgown, Briseis stepped onto it. She did not bother to change. This may happen any moment...
She exited her room, and knocked at the door of Achilles'. His room was next to hers, and she was relieved to see him alive, opening the door for her. She flew into his arms like a child and hugged him tightly and silently for a moment. Briseis looked at Achilles. He had wrapped himself in his blanket, and all the time, Briseis had rested her forehead on his bare chest. Briseis realized, so she blushed and looked away.
'I've just woken up by your screams.' Achilles said, grinning at her discomfort. 'Are you having a nightmare?'
Briseis nodded.
Achilles led her into his room and closed the door behind them. He sat on his bed, and gestured for her to do so too. Briseis sat down tentatively, feeling embarrassed. Achilles put an arm around her, and she looked at her lap. Her heart was racing fast, and she was sure that she was blushing. It was fortunate for her that Achilles could not see the color of her face in the moonlight. She swallowed hard, and was very aware that Achilles had only wrapped himself in a thin blanket.
'What is it about the dream?' Achilles said quietly. He enjoyed the physical contact between the two.
'I...' Briseis hesitated. Should she tell him? 'I dreamt of you... dying.'
'And what is that about my death?' Achilles said easily, trying to ease her uneasiness.
'There was a man, short and chubby... You were lying on the floor, a dagger in your heels... and then... I hit the man and ran towards you.' Briseis said in a merely audible volume. She paused for a moment, embarrassed by what coming next, 'Then I hugged you to me... and then you said...' She blushed furiously. 'You said you love me, and then you die.' She managed to babble out with both embarrassment and fear.
Achilles did not respond. He glanced at Briseis lightly, and inhaled. He felt contented. At least Briseis was remembering some of their past. However, she thought it was a dream. But why would she be so frightened? Did she care about him? Well, she cared about nearly everyone.
'So you're afraid that I'll die?' Achilles asked hesitantly.
'Yes,' Briseis replied softly. She was still looking at her lap, playing with her own fingers, 'I am afraid.'
'Would you like to stay here tonight? You're welcomed.' Achilles suggested.
Briseis blushed lightly again. It was not appropriate staying in a man's room, seeing that she was Apollo's priest. What would other people say? But the idea was quite tempting— she had affection for Achilles lately, and she always found him quite irresistible. She really wanted to know how it would feel like sleeping next to him in his bed... She also wanted to spend more time with this man too. He was too busy in the daytime. She wanted to know more about him, although deep in her heart, she already knew this man very well. She did not know how she was so acquainted with him, but somehow, she found she could understand him very much.
Her mind was debating, screaming for her not to stay, but at last she nodded. So Achilles made space for her in his bed, and he lay on the other side of his bed. Briseis suited herself too, and she closed her eyes. She heard Achilles turned, and she could feel him staring at her. So she opened her eyes, and met Achilles' sapphire ones. He reached out to touch her face. There was something in his eyes. Perhaps dilemma?
At last, Achilles opened his mouth to speak. Would Briseis accept it? He really wanted to tell her that what she had just dreamt of had happened before. But would Briseis even believe it? Maybe not. Maybe it would even ruin the only friendly relationship between them. Briseis might even be so afraid and embarrassed to speak to him again too. The risk was too big, and he could not take it. What could he say then? He had already opened his mouth to speak.
'You're beautiful.' He managed to think of it at once.
But Briseis already knew that it was not what he had wanted to say. Her words made Achilles nervous, 'Is that what you wanted to say?'
'I always wanted to tell you that.' Achilles smiled at her, trying to ease the tension between the both of them. Briseis nodded, but Achilles knew that he could not fool the girl. They stayed like that, staring at each other for a moment. Achilles hugged Briseis to him, playing with her hair. Briseis' face grew hot again. It was not only because of the heat from Achilles' chest. She was very aware that Achilles was not wearing anything. She should have pushed him away, but being in Achilles' arms felt so safe, so warm... How could she resist it?
'Now, I've to get some sleep, although you may not need to.' Achilles said as he closed his eyes. It had been long since he had held Briseis in his arms, her face on his chest, and he savoured the moment.
Like it or not, review.
Thanks a lot for the last chapter's.
Love you all.
Hey! Drop by my new story (It's called Forgiving Love!) when you've got time!
