Wavering Love
Chapter 9: Drawing the Pain
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Achilles thought the drought of the wine, and the music from the streets would dampen down his surging emotions. Each step he took didn't have the thought of Patroclus in it. Many questions quarreled in his head, one after another. He believed time away from him would wan away his heat for the boy but it only nurtured doubt and guilt. Walking the streets alone, and the nameless faces he saw deepened this unknown wound in him. It brought great joy when he saw his kingly friend, Odysseus.
They slammed into one another for a manly hug; Odysseus dropped his arm on Achilles' shoulder and said. "What brings you into the city my friend?" His voice was deep but cheerful. He reminded Achilles, of a great tree. Strange it may sound and even off putting, which is why he never told anyone. But the aged man carried a knowing for all things that existed, he was a strong steady man that could weather any conditions. A good mind for others and war, and merry when things were down.
"Just had to get away for awhile." Achilles replied. Odysseus wore a puzzled face towards his friend. "Since when are you tired of your private villa Achilles?" He didn't answer him and just shrugged. "Come! You must dine with me, and tell me your worries of your life."
He led Achilles arm in arm with each other down the busy streets of the city. His offer for Achilles telling him his troubles concerned the great warrior. He knew well enough what kept him away from home but didn't understand the truth of it, and Achilles believed such a tender secret should be kept that way.
So night after night, Odysseus' halls were quiet but cozy. Filled with many men like himself, conversation wasn't wasteful and there were more men then women. It brought Achilles great relaxation from the fretting of Patroclus but only when he wasn't talking. When he was silent and not listening to the talk of council over the latest news of Menelaus entertaining the two princes of Troy, he stared to the floor thinking about Patroclus. Odysseus noticed this and grasped Achilles should from daydreaming.
"You alright?" he asked. Achilles nodded 'yes' but it still didn't convince the aged king. "I miss them too." He said. "Excuse me?!" Achilles exclaimed. He thought Odysseus said 'I miss him too', shocked that he had a lover as well. "I miss my family back at home too. My son recently learned how to walk." A sparkle shone in Odysseus' eyes whenever he talked of his family. "I hate it when I travel away from them. A week is unbearable for me to stay away that long. But, you must always hold them in your heart. That's what gets you through the day."
"Who?" Achilles asked, like the pupil to his mentor. "Why, your loved ones of course!" Odysseus said rather shocked. Achilles hesitated before asking his next question. "How can you tell a loved one from others?" This brought Odysseus' eyes to Achilles, when it came to love and family he was a philosopher for it. Just another side to this wholesome man. "Love burns into you like a brand. You seem to never stop thinking about them and when you're with them you still do." He chuckled at the irony of it all, but Achilles was now figuring the clues out.
"But even if you love them, true love, it always brings tragedy!" His hard headed statement ceased Odysseus' chuckling. "Now when did that happen?" Achilles didn't want to go further into his history. "Love is never perfect Achilles. In some situations its living hell. But when it is that true, they don't seem to matter. All that matters is you and that person." He searched in Achilles' eyes for some hint at all this. "There will be some bad times as there are good. But when it gets hard, you should never give up!"
Soon, the king's attention was put forth to the main conversation of the two Trojan princes again. Meanwhile, Achilles slipped out of the party without as much as a thankful gesture to his beloved friend. Instead, he drove his horse to his house in haste. He now understood from Odysseus the conflicts of love don't destroy it but strengthen it. And if he and Patroclus ever endure such hills of trouble they will get through it side by side.
He was so glad he was finally home that he literally jumped off his horse without stationing it to its stables. Achilles called for Patroclus a thousand times when it was his mother that answered.
"Where is he? I must speak with him." Thetis didn't move to summon him, she continued on washing the shells in a basin that sat on her lap. "He is long gone Achilles." She finally revealed. All thoughts of what he would do when he met Patroclus froze at her words.
"What?" Achilles knelt down to Thetis, clutching her working hands to stop. "His father has finally come and retrieved him. He thought for so long Partoclus and his mother were dead but when news of Patroclus' arrival reached his ears he set out to get him. At first Patroclus was frightened but agreed to come with him to his kingdom in Locris."
"Locris!" Achilles was heart broken and stunned to find his love was a prince. He left his mother to set out for the journey until her questions stopped him. "He seemed very emotionally distraught before he saw his father. Still I couldn't understand why. Did you have anything to do with it?" Achilles slowly turned, fighting whether to tell her or not. "No." he lied sincerely, then head out for Locris.
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