Chapter 15
Briseis could hear battle cries from behind the tapestry, and started to pale. A part of her longed to run out there, but the other part of her thought of the child -- girl or not, she wanted the child! Shutting her eyes, she turned and ran through the escape route's tunnel.
It was more confusing that she thought it would be. Doors were abundant on either wall, traps were laid on the floor, twists and turns confused the path, and worse of all, there was no torch. Briseis thought of heading back, but realized she had come far too deep to go back. She tried calming herself down, but could not help sobbing as she frantically sought a haven to conceal herself. She freed her leg from a net, and then carried on running.
Deciding to take a bet, Briseis turned into a corner, and pushed open a door, which was creaking on its hinges. She put a hand to her forehead, knowing it was a dead end. She crouched down on the ground, burying her face in her arms, her hands grasping her hair. She was far too tired to carry on seeking the way out. Instead, she thought of Achilles yet again. Her mind always drifted to him no matter where she was.
Footsteps. Or was that a hallucination?
--
Clashing of swords sounded on the battlefield. A figure was seen sneaking through the army to the palace by Eudorus. It was definitely not an ally. The figure was hooded and cloaked, in a regal cloak of navy blue.
Achilles moved swiftly through the crowd, as though dancing to a beat no one knew. His god-like movements often caught the enemy by surprise. And then it seemed that a potential opponent had surfaced, and as they circled, the battlefield stopped to watch.
The opponent moved first, rushing towards Achilles, but Achilles dodged the blow easily with a swift twist of the body. The opponent advanced again, only to have his sword met with Achilles' sword. "Is that your best?" Achilles jeered. He jogged forward, then leapt up. The sun's rays forced the enemy to shut his eyes. A plunge. Achilles walked away. The opponent fell.
"Achilles, sir!" Eudorus called out.
"Speak." Achilles commanded, continuing to wield his sword gracefully through the enemy crowd.
"A dark figure I've sighted, going through into the palace. Briseis just went in not so long ago. Does thy lady know the route of refuge?" Eudorus reported.
Achilles nodded calmly, expressionless, but inside he had mixed feelings of worry and happiness. He sifted through the mass into the palace. If that day Aretha had not forced herself on him, Briseis would not have left and Achilles would have had shown Briseis the way of the escape route. Would she fall prey to a trap along the tunnel? He hurried on.
--
"And you thought you'd have won me in the end... I want you to watch everything you have disappear, even Achilles. But I would want you to watch it in the Underworld!" Aretha pressed a knife against Briseis' throat.
Briseis stared at Aretha with dull eyes, then hoarsely said, "Everybody dies, be it now or 50 years on. What does it matter? Look at me. I am no better now." She gave a bitter laugh. "You are not worthy of the beautiful mask you wear. In fact, I think you lack true beauty. Whatever you are going to do to me will not change that."
Aretha pressed the knife deeper, and a thin, crimson line formed on Briseis' neck. Briseis hissed. "You don't make me inferior at all with your wisdom. Achilles will be mine, and when that happens, you'd wish you've never said that." Aretha said, gritting her teeth.
"Oh? I'd be in hell by that time. How would I regret? Let's see if you even reach that stage." Briseis calmly replied.
"Be silent!" Aretha shot back. "When I slit your throat, you'll beg for mercy, and it will be too late!" She pushed the knife harder against Briseis' skin, and Briseis unintentionally gave a small cry of pain.
A huge, firm grip closed in on Aretha's neck, and she dropped the knife. She laughed at her attacker -- Achilles. "If you had agreed to take me in as your first wife, this war would not have started, and that slave over there would be safe and sound. But you refused to listen." Aretha said, her eyes on Achilles all the time.
"I am sorry to destroy a fair figure like yours, but you are nothing but an exquisite yet empty shell. 'Tis thrice you have hurt my wife, you deserve more than even just my sword." Achilles replied coldly, and with a swing of his sword, Aretha fell to the ground, motionless.
Achilles switched his gaze to Briseis, and then knelt by her, inspecting the cut. "I'm alright, Achilles." Briseis assured.
"You don't mistake me anymore?" Achilles asked. He had his answer through the feeble smile Briseis gave.
As Briseis lifted her hand, it hit Achilles' armor. "Ow, that hurts." Briseis complained. Achilles gave a light laugh.
"Stay here." he instructed, then dragged the body of Aretha out.
--
"My daughter!" King Leander cried out, rushing towards Achilles. No one continued the fight. Leander held the figure of Aretha up. "My two other daughters have always looked upon her as a role model... And you've destroyed her!" He attempted to strike Achilles.
"She would've killed my wife. Under such circumstances, you would have done the same. If you have not realized what your daughter has done, then you shall attain the answer from Queen Penelope of Ithaca." Achilles replied. "I'd advise to end this war, if you still want your army."
"I'm telling you, this will not be the end! I will return!" King Leander proclaimed, them carried the body of his daughter away.
The armies retreated.
-----
A/N: The war is rather short, because I'm no good at describing battles.
Although King Leander mentions that he will return, the fic will most probably NOT include the second attack.