Chapter Five: Therties

I had just lain down when Therties came in, banging the door. He stood there scanning the room. Finally, his gaze came to rest on me. Nausea swept over me followed by fear and hate. Just from his stare I knew what he had in mind. "No," I thought, "no, I'm not going to serve that monster's bed. No way."

"You come with me," he said in his gruff voice pointing towards me.

"I'm under orders to rest."

"I'm ordering you otherwise."

"You dare to over ride the direct orders of your leader?"

"That brat isn't my leader. I answer directly to Lord Marshal Agamemnon," he replied to me puffing out his chest.

"Right now you answer to Achilleus."

"That isn't quite right."

"Care to explain?"
"Come with me now."

"I'm to rest."

"Fine – I'll go to you," and with that he started to come towards me. When he was within four feet of me I jumped up and sprinted out of there as fast as my worn-out legs would carry me. Therties was close behind me. Patroclus and Achilles seemed to be able to get rid of Therties so I ran with all my might towards the hospital, praying they would still be there and my legs did not give out.

Bursting through the doors, I ran straight into both of them.

"Whoa! What's going on?" Achilles asked with a puzzled expression.

"Therties," was all I managed to gasp out. At that Patroclus and Achilles both exchanged looks, before they could look away Therties slammed the doors behind him.

"Settle down sergeant," Achilles' order as Therties stalked over.

"I'm not in your chain of command Achilleus."

"Sergeant I'm ordering you to claim down."

"I work for the High King, not you."

"As of this moment you are in my chain of command – you are in a hospital settle down," Achilles' voice was once again cold.

Therties paused. Standing still he looked unsure of himself. Fear was obvious in his face. Looking closer I noticed it was reluctant fear but that was not the main emotion. Therties hated and feared the fact that he respected Achilles; a boy compared to him yet a far superior warrior. Therties was probably an ordinary soldier slowly moving up the ranks and at age of about twenty-five was being shown up by someone far younger than he was. However, seeing his glance at me I knew no amount of respect or fear would allow him to back down. Lust was far more important to him at that moment. Sensing this Achilles step in front of me as Patroclus struggled to a sitting position on his hospital bed – he was not about to let his best friend be alone in this fight.

"All I want is to be with that girlfriend of mine."

At this I saw the muscles in Achilles' back tighten up, he stood there tense but in control. "Sergeant, the north wall needs support gather your squad and report to Antilocus."

"I'm off duty."

"We are under siege – there is no off duty."

"It's because you want her."

"I said report to the north wall."

"The High King Agamemnon is going to be disappointed that you are slacking while on duty, Achilles."

I heard Patroclus' tense at the name. "You are to address your commanding officer with respect sergeant," he barked.

By now the rest of the hospital was looking on our argument with great interest, most were looking at me – wondering who I was and why these men were fighting over me. When Patroclus said this on lookers voiced their agreement.

Therties suddenly backed down but before he left he said looking at me, "This is not over."

"Leave her out of this Therties," Achilles replied shifting his weight to block me further.

"It's not over," Therties said now looking at Achilles.

"We shall see." And with that Therties went off.

"Are you alright?" Both of them asked at once.

"Yeah. Yeah, thanks. Yeah, I think I'm ok," I said a little shaken by what could have happened.

Turning towards Patroclus, Achilles said, "Have a good night. I'll check in on you tomorrow."

"Yeah, ok. Good-night."

"Lady Briseis, apparently you are not that safe at the shelter, please stay here in the hospital. But get some rest," Achilles said to me.

"Yes my lord."

"Good-night."

"Good-night."

With that Achilles pulled on his helmet and walked off into the night.

"He is going to burn out," Autmendon spoke from his bed, "he can't support the army alone."

"I agree, but who else could? He's the Greek's backbone, without him...well I don't want to think about it." Patroclus responded slowly lowering himself back down.

"Could I get you two anything?" I asked feeling awkward.

"Just an answer," Autmendon said.

"Ok," I replied not sure what he meant.

"Is Achilles getting involved with you?"

"No. Why do people keep asking me that?"

This time Patroclus answer, "you see I've known Achilles basically his whole life – we are the best of friends. In fact I think I know him better that he knows himself, and it is just I have never seen him allow a relative stranger call him Achilles so fast."

"Nor have I seen him get so protective over a relative stranger, like Patroclus said," Autmendon also said.

All I could say is, "I don't understand."

"What they are trying to say is basically Achilles has taken a liking to you. Let me introduce myself, Lady Briseis, I am Phoenix, Achilles' old tutor," an elderly man said.

I was dumbfounded. Once again all of the emotions came swarming upon me – I wanted to run, I wanted to be by myself, most of all I wanted to cry. I was overwhelmed. Everything just hit me leaving me feel too vulnerable for my liking. The wall I created around myself since my marriage fell with my city. With this new information I said goodnight and excused myself. Finding a quiet, dark corner I tried to get some sleep.