The story finally gets a move on again.
--
Chapter 14
The uneventful ride went on for two days and Briseis began to grow blisters on her inner thighs. The raw skin on her wrists bled from the friction of the merciless ropes. When Briseis opened her eyes from a sleep, she saw ahead a kingdom, crowned with the golden rays of a sunrise. Two guards stood by her as she was lifted off the horse, each placing a hand on either of her shoulders.
Sanders was talking to an official, but what they were talking about, Briseis could not make out. When Sanders left the official, he told Briseis, "The queen has left the city and will be back only at next dawn. I'm afraid you'd have to be kept in the Prisoner's building till then. I apologize, but those are the queen's orders."
Being handled without care, like an unwanted object, Briseis was thrown by the guards into a dark cell. It was not entirely dark, as a single torch hung still on the wall of the cell. She sat in a corner, crouched as close as possible to the torch, trying to bring warmth into her. What had she gotten into now? Should I have left with Paris? But he would have killed him...
"Don't go! Hector's my cousin, he's a good man. Please don't fight him! Please!" But Achilles still ignored her, and rode on to challenge Hector.
Briseis opened her eyes. Achilles was a man of his words...was he not? "I will not abandon you, and our child."
--
Back in Pthia, Achilles placed his sword on his back, and strapped on his boots. He ignored the heavy armor, but settled for leather instead. He was going to find Briseis. Very briskly, he wove through the passageways and out of the palace. Aretha and King Leander had left. He knew now, where to find Briseis -- A beggar nearby had seen the soldiers take Briseis away that very night.
Ithaca. That was where he was going. Of all the places, Ithaca was one that he never imagined to hold Briseis captive.
-
As he arrived in Ithaca, Achilles immediately made for the Prisoners' building. Briseis had to be in there somewhere. Rather than have endless debates with royalties, Achilles would rather finish the job much more simply.
"Hold it, young man!" a guard nearby rushed forward, blocking Achilles' path. "No one is allowed to enter except authorized figures."
"I will spare your life if you move aside." Achilles threatened.
"Wait."
Achilles turned to see a woman in white robes ascend the steps to the building. She had a fair face, donned with delicate features that seem to haunt all who look upon her. It was Penelope, queen of Ithaca, wife of Odysseus.
"You are looking for a woman by the name of Briseis, is it not?" Penelope asked. "I would gladly have shown you where she is, but-"
Before Penelope finished her sentence, a soldier rushed towards her, reporting between breaths, "My lady, I apologize for the intrusion, but I have an urgent message. A soldier by the name of Eudorus has sent forth the news that Pthia is under attack!"
"Then... 'Tis double bad news for you, Achilles." Penelope said in a grave voice. "Briseis is missing."
-
"Ouch!" Briseis exclaimed as she tripped and fell on the ground. She lifted herself up again, clumsily, close to falling asleep. Some time back, she had been ordered by a guard into the palace, being told that the queen wanted to see her. However, Briseis chose to escape instead, and found a chance to knock the guard out of consciousness.
She only faintly remembered the path they had traveled by. Sleep seemed to be catching up with her, stretching the trail further and further away. She slumped to the ground.
-
"It was a mistake. I ordered my men to bring Princess Aretha back, but they mistook Briseis for Aretha. When I realized that, I summoned my men to bring Briseis to me, but who knew she'd run off on her own." Penelope explained.
"When?"
"Two days ago. I sent soldiers to look for her, but to no avail." Penelope replied.
Achilles ran.
-
Her eyelids struggled to keep her awake, while she forced herself to complete the arduous journey. She dragged her unwilling feet, sandal-less, ruined against the texture of the sandy grains of the ground. Still, she persisted on. Both hungry and tired, she constantly brushed her hands across her face, which was layered with sweat and mingled with tears. "I'll be home." she kept telling herself.
For quite some time, she still traveled this way, tripping and falling occasionally, but thankfully, the infant remained safe. On the fourth day, Briseis lifted her head to see Pthia. But she did not smile at the sight of it. She could not. Fire, there was fire in her mind. Flashbacks of Troy burning rushed back to her. Pthia was under attack!
Though the war had not started, soldiers were already poised, ready to fight anytime. Briseis looked about, but saw no sign of Achilles. But need she worry? Achilles was swift in motion, invincible... She rushed as quickly as possible to a secret entrance leading to the palace, then realized that all the women had already gone through the secret passageway for refuge. And it hit her that she had no idea where exactly that was.
Nevertheless, Briseis still went behind the tapestry. She heard a faint cry for her name, but in her drowsy state, it seemed like a hallucination. She ran on.
-
Upon sighting Achilles' return, Eudorus rushed to get ready his armor. Moments later, Achilles strode out, clad in his unique armor, meeting the enemy -- King Leander and his army.
"So, young prince, finally you come back from your tour!" King Leander laughed.
"Don't get too happy yet, old king. You come with the courage but not the strength enough to challenge us." Achilles calmly replied.
"We shall see. For you insulting our kingdom, we shall have this war as revenge!" King Leander said.
"It was your daughter who insulted herself. But if you wish to send your kingdom to the grave... So be it." Achilles replied, drawing his sword.