Disclaimer: Same as before.
Reviews Review: Thank you for all of the great reviews! How 'bout some more?!!
Chapter Subjects: Briseis and Achilles
Language Note/Summary: I'm trying to balance out the amount of stuff in the stories, since it has tended for the Achilles and Briseis story to be longer, and the Briseis side to be longer than the Achilles side. So in this story, the Achilles side is longer. There's also a lot more of the original script. Sorry, I don't have a quote this time.
Announcements: Please REVIEW and also tell me if you have a copy of the SCRIPT. Please read the NOTES at the end of the story, (they are very important).
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A Fool Still…
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A blonde figure steps through the tent opening. Patroclus' face is a mix of disbelief, surprise, and frustration.
"You ordered the men not to fight?"
I bite down on my tongue, knowing to wait it out; maybe he will leave without many words. As much as I love my cousin, he knows not of the ways of war. I only lift my head slowly. Maybe I can scare him off with my stare like I did when we first met.
"Do you not care that Greeks will die tomorrow? All because you can't stand Agamemnon."
He sounded like he really cared. He does care, doesn't he? Young men, they have all these illusions of war. They think that when enter the battle-field, glory lies before their feet, that all they need to do is pick it up. They think that there are no consequences.
Apparently, I'm going to have to scare him off with words. "Have you ever been to battle, Patroclus?" I ask, trying to make my voice gentle, yet firm.
He shifts slightly at this, a little un-comfortable. "No," he speaks in a voice only a level higher than a whisper. Seeing this as a weakness, I decide to push further.
"Have you ever killed a man? Have you ever seen a dying man take his last breath? Ever seen blood bubbling out of his wounds and mouth?"
"No." An even smaller voice this time. Good. I look away, thinking about what would be the best thing to say next.
"I have. And there is nothing glorious about it." I look back up at him. "Sometimes, I see the faces of the men I've killed. They stand across the river Styx, and they say 'Welcome, brother,' and there they wait for me."
"So you are not going to fight?" There is a hint of disbelief. I can hardly believe it myself.
"No, and neither are you. You are much too young." He looks hardly more than a lad, yet close to becoming a man. But not close enough. It is not his time.
"But you have taught me everything you know!" His voice is raised in disbelief. "I have learned from the best teacher! I'm ready!"
I sigh to myself inside. They always think so highly of themselves… until they face another man with a spear and shield.
"No, Patroclus."
"But-."
"Go." It's no use talking to him.
"But-," he begins again.
"Go, Patroclus!" and I turn away from him, pick up my cup, and eat a few of the raisins. He leaves quickly and I can almost feel the frustration in him.
I was like him, once. Thinking of all of the glorious feat of battle which I would accomplish. I was a fool, then. Perhaps I am a fool still. The raisins are sweet. The day does not seem like it's going to be interesting.
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The sound of men screaming in their final agonizing moments, horses whinnying with spears embedded in their torsos, is a horrible thing. It is hard to believe that here, in this tent of Agamemnon's, I can hear their cries.
It all began a while ago. It's impossible to tell which side is winning; men are all men. I try to calculate who has a better chance of winning; the Trojans have Hector and his faithful second-in-command, and Paris with his gift of the bow; the Greeks have Ajax and Odysseus, a warrior good enough, but they are missing their greatest hero: Achilles.
That mighty demi-god, that cursed son of Peleus, has decided to sit and brood in his tent instead of getting his share of glory.
And all because of one woman: me.
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I trudge lazily up the hill, dust forming on my sandals. Lying in my tent, with the sounds of war reaching my ears, I could not resist the temptation to watch it, at the least.
My men were already there, my faithful Myrmidons from Phthia. Patroclus was there, also. Twenty-three cities we had conquered and left for Agamemnon to rule. Not this city. Not Troy.
As I stepped onto the crown of the hill, Eurdonus looked up in surprise. The battle had already started, and was going badly. Both Ajax and Menelaus were dead; killed by that Prince of Troy: Hector, brother to Paris. And speaking of Paris, he was no where to be seen. The wife-stealer who started this war does not fight in it. A brave man, indeed.
The Greeks had smashed into the Trojans, "charged" more like it; and that was their mistake. The Trojans kept in formation, orderly, and archers on the walls of Troy rained down death in the form of arrows. Paris was not on the walls either.
Although I had nothing to gain and nothing to worry about, I was frustrated, as Patroclus had been.
"Get them back into formation," I growled to myself. I found myself pacing. Why do I care for this battle? Because Odysseus is out there. I scanned my eyes over the chaos, yet could not spot the quick-thinking son of Laertes.
Hector was leading his men well and fighting valiantly. The priestess' cousin. Thinking about her made anger swell up inside of me. That evil tongue of hers. Why did I even bother trying to help her?
I wonder where she is now…
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Comment: I know, that was kinda short and abrupt, but I'm in a bit of tight spot here, with all the chapter stuff! I think I'm doing Paris next...
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NOTE 1:I will be writing threedifferent sequels, ifyou tell me I should. Here's my idea:
Sequel A: The ending in the movie. This will be a one-chapter fic called The Silence After, which will be started soon.
Sequel B: The ending which many people were hoping for ; Achilles doesn't die. This will be a fic called... I dunno.
Sequel C: Another fantasy; Hector DOESN'T DIE!!! (mmm, Eric Bana… Yeah, I didn't want him to die). This is called At the Edge of an Ocean and already has five chapters.
For all three versions, I will still be speaking from all points of view, including maybe those who are dead and I might introduce new PoVs and/or characters. Please, give me your comments or suggestions for these plot developments!!!