Chapter Three: A Meeting
Moaning woke me up. The man next to Patroclus was making awful noises, altering all around that he was in pain. Rushing over to him I grab some poppy milk but hesitated – how much could he handle in this weakened state? Should I go for another painkiller? As I debated this I didn't hear the door open and was startled when a masculine voice said, "Don't give that to him unless you want him dead." As the man said this he bent down and pushed two spots on the man's neck.
"What do you think you are doing? Who do you think you are?" I demanded fearing he had killed the man, who was no longer moaning. Pushing the stranger aside I checked if the man was ok.
"He's fine," said the stranger, who was now next to Patroclus.
"Who are you? What are you doing?" I asked again going to stand by Patroclus. The stranger looked me in the eye for quite some time. His gorgeous green eyes were searching my hazel ones as if looking into my soul. I did not like getting examined so, yet could not bring myself to turn away. This stranger seemed to draw me towards him – it was as if he had magical powers. Finally, his stare relaxed, his eyes seemed to have refocused but were still holding mine.
"My name is Achilles. Patroclus is my best friend. I came here to check on him. However, Autmedon was in pain – I stopped that for him," he said after I turned my eyes away from his unwavering gaze.
I busied myself with cleaning up odds and ends in the hospital avoiding Achilles the best I could without being rude. He went from bed to bed checking on the men. Most were asleep but when one was awake they would chat for a little bit about everything from the weather to Troy to home to religion. In spite of myself I listened to their conversations and caught myself gazing at Achilles more often than not. He wasn't the typical 'soldiering-type.' In fact he was quite the opposite. He was a good listener, kind, courteous, with a good sense of humor. After visiting with all the men he checked on Patroclus one last time before turning to me saying, "Could you please inform me when Patroclus wakes up Lady...."
"Briseis," I filled in for him, "and yes I will."
He gave me an odd half smile finished with tilting his head to the left before answering, "Thank you," and with that he left.
More men came in. It was an endless stream of men with all sorts of injuries after the little break when I met Achilles.
I was tired and hungry. In need of a break I left after making sure Patroclus was taken care of, and found to my surprise it was evening. I stood looking at my once royal house now nothing but a soon to be ruin. I suddenly felt nausea spreading through my core and tears rising in my eyes. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I flew down to the beach to a secluded spot no one else knew about. Collapsing on the sand I cried till sleep over took me.
I woke with a start as an owl hooted nearby. Knowing I should be getting back I started to get up. That is when I heard splashing from around the corner. Finding some bushes I hide away fearing who it might be and what he would do to me. Than I saw him. A god, a man like a god. Tall, extremely well built, his arms and shoulders defined from years of fighting as his chest was. He had a six-pack. Suddenly, as if he heard something he turned allowing me to see his back muscles were just as developed as his front side. My eyes traveled down his body to discover his legs were well toned. He was not a giant but not wiry, he must have definitely have been a great warrior. I could not see the details of his face but his hair was shaved off and he was clean cut. Unlike my late husband who had been as hairy as a dog this man had no hair on his body. The muscles working smoothly under his shorts as he walked towards me. I kept as still as I could trying not to allow him any idea I was in the bushes. Glancing down to make sure my body was hidden, and upon looking up I discovered that he had disappeared.
Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind and forced upward quickly. An arm around my waist and a hand on my throat pulled me back from the bushes till my back hit a firm body.
"Please don't hurt me!" I choked out.
"Briseis?" A familiar voice asked from behind me.
"Yes," I whispered. He released me from the grip and I turned around looking at the ground. Till I saw his feet my eyes going up his body until I was looking up into his gorgeous green eyes.
"Achilles?" I asked in a hushed voice.
"I'm surprised you recognized me after meeting me only once when I had armor on."
"Your eyes and voice were enough," I answered. "What are you doing here?"
"I was swimming, than I came across this beach and decided to look around. How is Patroclus?"
Remembering my promise I replied, "I needed a break from everything. I left the healers in charge. Sorry, but I needed to clear my mind with everything happening I just... I just..." With that I fell silent unable to describe everything to this man who I had mistaken for Apollo. Looking up at him silently pleading for him to understand me.
"I know," he answered, "why do you think I went for a swim? Sometimes a person needs time alone to think over things that are too personal to share at that moment." There was a pause, both of us unsure what to do. I was wondering what he had to think over that was 'too personal to share' and why I was so drawn to this man.
"Won't you get in trouble with your leader for taking a break?" I asked finding the silence comfortable, and in that way disturbing.
"Agamemnon?"
"No, Achilleus." I said in confusion, and became more so when he laughed.
"It is hard to get in trouble with yourself."
"Achilleus?"
"That's my formal name. Please call me Achilles. In fact I really..." he fell silent looking beyond me.
"You really?"
"Oh, umm, nothing it's just..." he paused again straining his eyes and ears.
'Odd.' I thought. When I was about to ask him to explain he said, "I just hate the sound of it. Come on, I'll walk you back." Seeing my hesitation he added, "I trust my men with many things except some of them miss their wives and girlfriends too much. If you understand me."
"That's why I hide when I heard you, and how can I trust you?"
"I'm not like that."
"That means nothing to me."
"Ok. Well, let's put it this way, if I wanted to do something it would already be done."
"Oh, ok." I said realizing how true this was.
"I'll walk you back."
"That's ok – there's a road right there that will get you back, you go on ahead – I need some more time."
"No, come on, I'll walk you back now," he said with an authoritative voice, one that reminded me of the great general of men this man in front of me was. Than it struck me – he was young, about my age, which was sixteen.
"I don't want to burden you," I responded trying to get him to leave me alone politely, so not to be hit. I could tell he was not going to back down, neither was I, and than I knew he knew I was just as stubborn as he was.
"Queen Briseis would you allow me the honor of escorting you back?"
"Listen buddy I am not..."
"Unless you want to die, you will leave now." I was dumbfounded at his whispered interruption.
"What do you mean?" I asked in a hushed voice, "I thought I could trust you."
"You can trust me, but we aren't alone," he whispered to me.
"I'm surprised the great Achilleus hasn't already gotten you back to the castle," a familar voice said off to the side. "So Achilleus are you so taken with my wife your lengendary sixth sense failed you?"
I glanced from Mynes to Achilles, unsure now of the entire situtation. The fact that Mynes was alive, my feelings, this sixth sense, the fall of my city, everything was swimming inside my head. As I ws looking at Achilles, who had not responded, I noticed on his extremely handsome face a small smile started to appear. Suddenly, his right arm flew out in front of my throat catching an arrow aimed at me, and at the same time catching another arrow his left aimed at him. Mynes started to clap in applause saying, "So maybe not all your senses are thrown off by my Briseis. However, I doubt you'll be able to get both of you out alive. Men! Kill them! Kill them both!"
With that the entire area burst forth with Mynes' men. We were surrounded and out numbered. But worst of all we had no weapons. With several war cries they attacked swinging swords ready to spill our blood. Achilles had worked his way in front of me doding and kickboxing against the men. Looking around I spotted a log, and I would used it to joist with anyone who attacked me. I than heard footsteps behind me, only too late – I felt the blow and darkness covered my eyes.
Moaning woke me up. The man next to Patroclus was making awful noises, altering all around that he was in pain. Rushing over to him I grab some poppy milk but hesitated – how much could he handle in this weakened state? Should I go for another painkiller? As I debated this I didn't hear the door open and was startled when a masculine voice said, "Don't give that to him unless you want him dead." As the man said this he bent down and pushed two spots on the man's neck.
"What do you think you are doing? Who do you think you are?" I demanded fearing he had killed the man, who was no longer moaning. Pushing the stranger aside I checked if the man was ok.
"He's fine," said the stranger, who was now next to Patroclus.
"Who are you? What are you doing?" I asked again going to stand by Patroclus. The stranger looked me in the eye for quite some time. His gorgeous green eyes were searching my hazel ones as if looking into my soul. I did not like getting examined so, yet could not bring myself to turn away. This stranger seemed to draw me towards him – it was as if he had magical powers. Finally, his stare relaxed, his eyes seemed to have refocused but were still holding mine.
"My name is Achilles. Patroclus is my best friend. I came here to check on him. However, Autmedon was in pain – I stopped that for him," he said after I turned my eyes away from his unwavering gaze.
I busied myself with cleaning up odds and ends in the hospital avoiding Achilles the best I could without being rude. He went from bed to bed checking on the men. Most were asleep but when one was awake they would chat for a little bit about everything from the weather to Troy to home to religion. In spite of myself I listened to their conversations and caught myself gazing at Achilles more often than not. He wasn't the typical 'soldiering-type.' In fact he was quite the opposite. He was a good listener, kind, courteous, with a good sense of humor. After visiting with all the men he checked on Patroclus one last time before turning to me saying, "Could you please inform me when Patroclus wakes up Lady...."
"Briseis," I filled in for him, "and yes I will."
He gave me an odd half smile finished with tilting his head to the left before answering, "Thank you," and with that he left.
More men came in. It was an endless stream of men with all sorts of injuries after the little break when I met Achilles.
I was tired and hungry. In need of a break I left after making sure Patroclus was taken care of, and found to my surprise it was evening. I stood looking at my once royal house now nothing but a soon to be ruin. I suddenly felt nausea spreading through my core and tears rising in my eyes. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I flew down to the beach to a secluded spot no one else knew about. Collapsing on the sand I cried till sleep over took me.
I woke with a start as an owl hooted nearby. Knowing I should be getting back I started to get up. That is when I heard splashing from around the corner. Finding some bushes I hide away fearing who it might be and what he would do to me. Than I saw him. A god, a man like a god. Tall, extremely well built, his arms and shoulders defined from years of fighting as his chest was. He had a six-pack. Suddenly, as if he heard something he turned allowing me to see his back muscles were just as developed as his front side. My eyes traveled down his body to discover his legs were well toned. He was not a giant but not wiry, he must have definitely have been a great warrior. I could not see the details of his face but his hair was shaved off and he was clean cut. Unlike my late husband who had been as hairy as a dog this man had no hair on his body. The muscles working smoothly under his shorts as he walked towards me. I kept as still as I could trying not to allow him any idea I was in the bushes. Glancing down to make sure my body was hidden, and upon looking up I discovered that he had disappeared.
Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind and forced upward quickly. An arm around my waist and a hand on my throat pulled me back from the bushes till my back hit a firm body.
"Please don't hurt me!" I choked out.
"Briseis?" A familiar voice asked from behind me.
"Yes," I whispered. He released me from the grip and I turned around looking at the ground. Till I saw his feet my eyes going up his body until I was looking up into his gorgeous green eyes.
"Achilles?" I asked in a hushed voice.
"I'm surprised you recognized me after meeting me only once when I had armor on."
"Your eyes and voice were enough," I answered. "What are you doing here?"
"I was swimming, than I came across this beach and decided to look around. How is Patroclus?"
Remembering my promise I replied, "I needed a break from everything. I left the healers in charge. Sorry, but I needed to clear my mind with everything happening I just... I just..." With that I fell silent unable to describe everything to this man who I had mistaken for Apollo. Looking up at him silently pleading for him to understand me.
"I know," he answered, "why do you think I went for a swim? Sometimes a person needs time alone to think over things that are too personal to share at that moment." There was a pause, both of us unsure what to do. I was wondering what he had to think over that was 'too personal to share' and why I was so drawn to this man.
"Won't you get in trouble with your leader for taking a break?" I asked finding the silence comfortable, and in that way disturbing.
"Agamemnon?"
"No, Achilleus." I said in confusion, and became more so when he laughed.
"It is hard to get in trouble with yourself."
"Achilleus?"
"That's my formal name. Please call me Achilles. In fact I really..." he fell silent looking beyond me.
"You really?"
"Oh, umm, nothing it's just..." he paused again straining his eyes and ears.
'Odd.' I thought. When I was about to ask him to explain he said, "I just hate the sound of it. Come on, I'll walk you back." Seeing my hesitation he added, "I trust my men with many things except some of them miss their wives and girlfriends too much. If you understand me."
"That's why I hide when I heard you, and how can I trust you?"
"I'm not like that."
"That means nothing to me."
"Ok. Well, let's put it this way, if I wanted to do something it would already be done."
"Oh, ok." I said realizing how true this was.
"I'll walk you back."
"That's ok – there's a road right there that will get you back, you go on ahead – I need some more time."
"No, come on, I'll walk you back now," he said with an authoritative voice, one that reminded me of the great general of men this man in front of me was. Than it struck me – he was young, about my age, which was sixteen.
"I don't want to burden you," I responded trying to get him to leave me alone politely, so not to be hit. I could tell he was not going to back down, neither was I, and than I knew he knew I was just as stubborn as he was.
"Queen Briseis would you allow me the honor of escorting you back?"
"Listen buddy I am not..."
"Unless you want to die, you will leave now." I was dumbfounded at his whispered interruption.
"What do you mean?" I asked in a hushed voice, "I thought I could trust you."
"You can trust me, but we aren't alone," he whispered to me.
"I'm surprised the great Achilleus hasn't already gotten you back to the castle," a familar voice said off to the side. "So Achilleus are you so taken with my wife your lengendary sixth sense failed you?"
I glanced from Mynes to Achilles, unsure now of the entire situtation. The fact that Mynes was alive, my feelings, this sixth sense, the fall of my city, everything was swimming inside my head. As I ws looking at Achilles, who had not responded, I noticed on his extremely handsome face a small smile started to appear. Suddenly, his right arm flew out in front of my throat catching an arrow aimed at me, and at the same time catching another arrow his left aimed at him. Mynes started to clap in applause saying, "So maybe not all your senses are thrown off by my Briseis. However, I doubt you'll be able to get both of you out alive. Men! Kill them! Kill them both!"
With that the entire area burst forth with Mynes' men. We were surrounded and out numbered. But worst of all we had no weapons. With several war cries they attacked swinging swords ready to spill our blood. Achilles had worked his way in front of me doding and kickboxing against the men. Looking around I spotted a log, and I would used it to joist with anyone who attacked me. I than heard footsteps behind me, only too late – I felt the blow and darkness covered my eyes.