Chapter Ten: Disappointment and Longing

"Sir we are under attack!" Automedon exclaimed upon burst into the room. Causing us to pull away from each other. Both bitter about the interruption.

"What is it?" Achilles asked in a raw voice.

"The Antankees are attacking us sir. Phoenix said to come and get you."

"I'll be right there."

"Yes sir," and with that he sprinted off.

I stood up in order to help Achilles arm himself for battle. I helped him in silence, than followed him towards the door. However, before we reached it he turned towards me looking down at the helmet in his hands before looking up at me. "Briseis, I..."

When he did not continued I said, "Good luck, be safe."

"I'll see you later."

"Ditto."

Nodding he turned around pulling on his helmet before striding out the door. Leaving me standing there in a state of confusion. Didn't he say that he only liked me as a friend while sort of asleep? Than compared me to his late wife, before we were only a centimeter apart from kissing each other. He wanted to say something but I was afraid he was about to say almost kissing me was a mistake. Maybe I should of let him finish, but I just knew Achilles wasn't the sort of man who did anything he did truly want to do. I did not want him distracted in anyway before he went off to battle. I hope I had done the right thing. I didn't know. But I did know that if there was a battle that would mean injured men would need care. Sighing I opened the door to the hospital, it was going to be a long day.

"By tomorrow all we will have to do is updating caring." Meanes said behind me.

Turning around I noticed he was smiling. "What do you mean?"

"It's over."

"Over?"

"Yeah, we won."

"We won?"

"The Antankees have given up. Achilles should be proud of himself he pulled off some daring moves supposedly."

"He isn't injured."

"No, I just saw him outside and I must say he is fully recovered."

"Good it seemed that he was in a consent state of injury."

"Yeah, I have never seen him injured for so long."

"Good I was getting worried he would always be in here for something different."

"No it is far and few between the times that he is actually in need of medical attention."

"What about Patroclus?"
"He is injured slightly more often than his cousin, but Achilles is always watching out for his safety so it is rare that he is injured to." With that he left me to see how the men were doing.

The day inched by, but there was no sign of Achilles. Finally, sounds of a celebration came drifting into the hospital. Looking around I couldn't find anything else really to do – the men were sleeping or being visited by friends. I got changed. I needed to go to bed but the need for food was greater, driving me to try to find dinner, with as little contact with drunken soldiers as possible. Walking along a back way to where food for the slaves was served I noticed a figure, that I could identify anywhere, leaning against the wall watching the last bit of sunset on the horizon. Than it hit me like a chariot at full tilt – I was in love with him. I paused not sure now what to do. I never was in love before. I wanted to run up to him yet at the same moment I was incredibly shy.

"I never did care that much for parties." He said slowly turning towards me.

"I heard you pulled off some daring moves," I shyly said slowly walking towards him.

"It was a good fight."

"I'm glad you weren't injured again."

"I...how was your day?"

"Same old." I now was next to him looking into his eyes. It seemed to me I could look into those green depths forever losing myself in the contrasts I saw in there. But I was afraid, scared of losing myself to this man, scared of surrendering to this warrior, scared of that he might not love me back. Tearing my eyes away I looked out onto the gently rolling hills.

Side by side we stood there in a comfortable silence, neither one of us wanting to disturb the peace that was settling down with the oncoming darkness. A silent understanding was formed between us; we could trust and be there for each other to the very end.

It wasn't until the first stars were shining when I broke this silence, "I'll leave you in peace." I turned to leave realizing that I was no longer hungry but did not get that far because Achilles reached out to take hold of my hand.

"Don't go." He said in a voice full of longing. Seeing my unsureness he continued, "Stay with me tonight."

"My lord, I..." His kiss broke off the rest of my train of thought. Time stood still, I was no longer aware of anything else in the world except that the man that I loved was holding me close and kissing me. I was not aware that my knees could hardly support my weight anymore and I was depending on him to hold me up. Throwing my arms around his neck I pulled him closer into my kiss. The need for air pulled us apart, and we stood there in that embrace touching foreheads looking into each other's eyes.

"I love you," came Achilles voice was soft and bewilder. Followed by that smile that could light up a room.

I could not believe it he loved me back. I stood there quietly smiling. Finally I whispered back, "I love you too."

Than all of a sudden his smile faded into a frown and pulled away from my embrace. "What's wrong?" I asked totally confused because for me everything in the world finally seemed to be perfect for a fleeting couple of minutes.

"I'm sorry, Briseis, I should not have said that. This was a mistake and should have never of happened, I'm sorry. Have a good night." He said in a firm voice void of any emotion, his back towards. I stood in complete shock as he swiftly walked away from me.

"Now what was that all about?" I wondered.