Briseis' head jerked up as she heard footsteps coming towards them. A bolt was heard, sliding out of its lock, and Liander strode in and cast a quick glance over all of them.
"Up, ladies, I've men waiting to see you," he commanded easily.
The rest of the maidens slowly stood to their feet but Briseis remained standing. "It is proper for a man to request an action of a woman, rather than demand it," she said proudly, raising her chin.
"You are right, my dear," he said mockingly. "May I request the joy of seeing you stand?"
Briseis stood up regally, looking every bit the royal maiden. "Do not address me so formally, sir," she said pointedly.
Liander watched, amused, as she followed the other girls out into a line. He followed them and stood with the group of men who were standing apart from the others. Briseis cast a disgusted glance around her; it seemed as though the entire camp had come to watch this sport.
"Well, you all know the routine. Those who have been picked will have their choice of woman. I choose first, then Syrius. The rest of you will choose in turn."
The men all let out a laugh and Liander smiled as he continued. "That woman will be yours by marriage, and you will treat her as your wife," he said, locking eyes with each man. "The gods define the roles of man and wife very clearly, if anyone breaks these laws he'll have to answer to me. If you feel yourself incapable of these actions, leave now and another will take your place." The smile was still on his face but a dangerous look had appeared in his eyes.
He finally turned towards the maidens, and Briseis knew what his choice would be. He locked eyes with her and jerked his head, indicating he wished her to come to him. She cocked her eyebrow and stood still. "My lady," he said bowing. "If you'll do me the honor." It was only then that she moved forward to stand near him- well out of arm's reach. The men jested with him and he put up with their remarks with good humor. "Syrius, your turn."
Briseis held her breath as he made his choice, then released it. He'd not chosen Damaris. She was chosen later, by one of Liander's men. As the choosing came to an end, Liander led the woman back to their captivity hut.
"You are to prepare for your wedding," he told them. "I'll have the purification water brought over. The men will come to claim you later and we'll feast together, then you'll leave with your respective husbands."
He shut the door and Briseis closed her eyes as she heard the bolt slide into place. "Well?" she asked cockily, grinning at Damaris at their predicament.
"This is the oddest situation I've ever been in," Damaris admitted. "Honorable, in an odd, twisted way."
A man brought in the bucket of purification water and the maidens all began to wash. Damaris looked at Briseis. "Do you?"
"I do not. I'll die a virgin or live for the service of the gods. I've no use for the water."
Damaris frowned, then nodded. "Then I shall abstain as well."
"You dare enter into your marriage unclean?" one of the girls called out, seeing them standing off alone.
"I dare not enter into any marriage," Briseis retorted. "Unlike some, I still serve the gods in time of trouble."
A few of the girls looked ashamed at this and approached Briseis. "Then what will you do when your groom comes for you?" a shy girl asked.
"I'll slay myself or him before I allow him to take me as his wife," Briseis said softly.
"Better yourself than him, for others will take you in his stead."
"Hector will come for me," Briseis said assuredly. "I only need to wait a little while longer."
One of the girls stepped forward. "I heard two men talking, while they were choosing their future brides. Syrius himself slaughtered the prince, he told them himself."
"I don't believe it," Briseis replied stubbornly.
"It's true," another girl stepped forward. She was the one Syrius had chosen. "While the others chose he told tales of his accomplishments. Prince Hector was injured by a poisoned dagger."
Briseis swallowed hard, willing herself not to believe it. Messengers can be mistaken, but if it is heard by the culprit himself…
The other girls saw her distress and moved away to give her some room to herself. Damaris stayed by her side. "Briseis, I'm sorry," she whispered, tears starting in her eyes.
"It can't be true," Briseis whispered. "I had hoped that the messenger only exaggerated, but it was heard from Syrius's own lips."
Damaris knew of no answer, she only held Briseis' hand soothingly.
"Surely I would know, though," Briseis said miserably, tears starting to trickle down her cheeks. "Surely the gods would give me some sign or my heart would cry out with loss. I mean, he couldn't have died without my knowing, could he?"
Damaris only shook her head. "I don't know."
Briseis tears slowly stopped as anger once again took hold of her. "I'll kill him," she hissed hatefully.
"Liander?"
"Syrius."
"How?"
"I'll sneak into his tent tonight." Briseis' eyes were hard.
"Liander will stop you."
"Not if he is dead," Briseis replied simply.
Damaris made no reply, she leaned back against the walls as Briseis sat in silence beside her. Briseis was lost in her thoughts and she paid no attention to their surroundings, but Damaris watched with growing trepidation as the sun sank lower into the skies.
It was finally time.
"Briseis."
Briseis was jerked out of her thoughts.
"It's time, they'll be coming soon. Promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"You'll come for me."
"You wish to try to escape?"
Damaris nodded. "Our fate will be no worse than if we stay in the camp and be found to have murdered our husbands. At least this way we have a chance."
"I'll come for you," Briseis vowed. "Wait in your tent for me, but I swear I'll come unless death claims me."
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Artrides watched as the sentries changed positions, then gave a nod to his men. Arrows flew through the air, hitting their marks with deadly precision. Both groups of sentries fell motionless on the spot. They crept forward and Artrides cast a glance back at Hector and Andromache to make sure they were still a safe distance behind. They were, though Hector had forced Andromache to ride even further behind himself. Artrides smiled, chuckling to himself. Still thinking of others, Hector.
As they crept through the trees to the edge of the camp, Artrides saw his men on the other side of the camp, a mere hundred feet away. There were only forty men milling around, most without weapons, and Artrides had forty archers and fifty more soldiers. It would be an easy battle.
A movement near the center of the camp caught his eye and made him pause for a moment. "May the bride of Liander come out!" a man cried out, standing in a group of men gathered near a tent. Artrides eyes widened as he realized what- or rather, who- was in that tent. "Fire at those armed," he whispered to the archers, simultaneously giving the order to step out into view.
Those with weapons dropped to the ground and the rest of the men quickly froze, seeing themselves outnumbered and surrounded. He jerked his head to Hector who quickly rode into the camp and the two of them led a group of soldiers over to the tent that housed the maidens.
"Back away slowly," Artrides ordered, his voice low. The men looked stunned, but they wordlessly complied, raising their hands in surrender. "Hector, the door."
Hector complied without argument and went to release the lock.
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"Briseis, here they come," Damaris said, standing to her feet. "Remember your promise."
"I will," Briseis whispered, her face pale. She heard Syrius call out loudly.
"May the bride of Liander come out!"
Briseis stepped forward, fear in her eyes. Resolution was still in her heart, but she shuddered at what could happen. She was well aware of the risks. The door was pushed open gently and she swallowed, ready to show an impassionate face to her groom.
Her eyes widened as the door opened to reveal the man standing on the other side.
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Hector pushed open the door, smiling as he saw his cousin uninjured and well. Despite her well-being, though, fear and trepidation radiated from her eyes, which quickly turned to shock then joy as she saw him.
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Briseis' mouth opened and closed silently, her brain trying to process the fact that her cousin was standing in front her, very much alive and smiling happily at her.
"Hector!" she screeched, launching herself to him and gripping him as though she'd never let go. "But you were dead!"
He laughed, holding her close. "No, dearest, you've my wife to thank for her quick administrations. Are you well?"
She nodded, her face still buried in him. "I am now." She pulled back to smile up at him. "I knew you'd come for me."
He kissed her forehead. "I always do," he replied. It was a simple as that.
She turned to grin proudly at the group of suitors, most of whom were looking slightly taken aback to learn of her identity. Syrius looked positively rigid with fear as he stared at the man he's supposedly killed.
"Andromache's over there, Briseis, why don't you go over to her. Take the other women as well," Hector gave her a gentle push and she motioned for the other girls to follow. Andromache was standing off to the side, grinning from ear to ear, and she met Briseis half-way, pulling her tightly in a hug.
"I was so scared," she whispered, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
"I thought Hector was dead," Briseis replied, wiping her eyes. "I'm glad to see it isn't so."
Andromache was laughing and crying, all at the same time. "I didn't know what would happen to you," she said, smiling through her tears.
"You needn't have feared, Hector always comes for me," Briseis said, smiling at her cousin who'd joined them. Andromache smiled at him, allowing him to pull her into a hug.
"Thank you, love," she whispered to him.
"You seem to be very much in favor of my coming on this expedition, but I remember it wasn't so this morning."
Andromache raised her eyes to his teasing face and smiled ruefully. He kissed her lips. "Fortunately, you don't stand a chance when we cross wills." She laughed and Artrides walked over to them.
"Briseis, I hear I've congratulations to give you on acquiring a husband."
"Oh, stop," she said, laughing.
Hector looked at her sternly, though his eyes twinkled. "You're not to marry any man I don't approve of, and the one you've chosen most definitely doesn't have my consent."
Briseis grinned back at him. "You're right, I apologize for my unwise choice," she said modestly, lowering her eyes but letting out a small laugh.
He tugged a strand of her hair gently, kissing her forehead once again. "You're forgiven," he teased, pulling her close. "And there are many back in Troy who are anxiously awaiting your return," he said pointedly, and Artrides nodded.
"I'll order some of the men to escort you," he said, quickly issuing the order and finding horses for all the women.
Soon they had departed, setting off for the journey home. They would have to stop for night and continue the next morning, so they would no reach Troy until the following afternoon, but it made no difference to Briseis.
Comfortably sandwiched between Hector and Andromache, Briseis already was home.