Wavering Love
Chapter 2: Patroclus
Patroclus was inconsolable, pleasant hills and valleys lush with autumn wildflowers, pine trees, live oaks, and shrubs. Occasionally his party would pass shepherds bringing their herds down from the mountains from winter grazing. The air was crisp and reminded him of the light snows back at home. The distant hills looked blue in the morning mist and herds of cattle and horses lazily grazed on the slopes.
"Sir?" Patroclus questioned his fellow traveler to his right. "When will we arrive at Thetis' house?" The bearded traveler scratched his chin before speaking; calculating the time it will take them to get to the house at their horses' pace. "I'd say not long. We are deep in Achilles' land and his house isn't that far from that slope. You would see it well after we approach the top of the hills."
Patroclus paid no attention to the answer of his question. The young boy's mind was taken whole at the mention of Achilles. "Achilles! The Achilles!" The words choked in his throat, trying to breathe out of his excitement and be let out. "You mean the war hero lives with Thetis'!" Patroclus' enthusiasm didn't shock the old traveler and his voice stayed flat unlike the youth beside him. "Yes. That is his mother, the silver footed" His sentence was broken in half from the surprised squeals of the boy.
"Son of a bitch!! I can't believe my mother even knew this woman. I will pray thanks to Zeus for making it so every day!" His vulgar speech made the older man jump a bit from offense, but after learning the innocent nature, the traveler turned from anger to annoyance by the boy's struck of luck.
Just from that mere conversation the world looked different from Patroclus. More new, brighter. Such a difference from where he saw it in the past. Before he could remember, the world was grayed with strangers, poverty, loss, and the cold! He would never forget how cold some of the winters he'd been. Even the bosom of his mother couldn't shield him away from viscous frost bites.
"Patroclus!" His name woke him from his past and noticed that he was looking down from a house on the shore. "We are here." The same old man implied. Now that his new home was in view, and it won't be to long before he is at the doorstep, Partoclus' stomach now formed a new feeling of anticipation. What if they are cruel? What if Thetis won't even remember my mother? What if Achilles' won't like me?
The last question that quarreled in his mind stung the most. Apprehensive feelings vanished to make room for fear. With each step, Patroclus prayed the same wish to another god. He prayed to wisdom, to fate, to love, even to the wine god which doesn't really have any comparison to the problem he is now in, but it doesn't hurt to try he told himself.
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