5)

'Gentlemen!' Agamemnon greeted the kings. 'Troy is taken by our brave armies and Helen is returned to her rightful husband. We have reached victory!'

They all applauded because it was expected of them. Achilles detested it, so he remained standing motionless.

'I must thank Odysseus for his brilliant plan!' Again everybody showed their appreciation, which the King of Ithaca accepted reluctantly. 'We shall celebrate!'

The kings went their way. Achilles was displeased when Agamemnon's way led in his direction. But he waited "respectfully".

'Achilles.' Agamemnon looked rather evilly. 'I noticed your interest in the Princess of Troy.'

Oh, so that's what this is all about; King Agamemnon claimed his price.

'Stay away from her. She's mine.'

'What about the girl?' he dared to ask. Agamemnon was already partially intoxicated, so he might be generous now. Achilles would take her anyway, but the consent of Agamemnon could be useful.

'What girl?' Agamemnon asked, slightly annoyed.

'I guess there's no problem then,' Achilles spoke. He immediately turned away, he didn't want to spend another minute with the arrogant king. The girl was another story though, she intrigued him.

He went back to where he had come from, but he couldn't find Briseis anymore. She was gone, just like Princess Andromache. They probably fled from the festivities.

He couldn't blame them.

'Damn Achilles!'

Briseis was infuriated. Why hadn't he left her alone? She had done everything to displease him, been extremely disrespectful, but he had been persistent. This was scary, she was very aware of the fact he could take her whenever he pleased. 'He just didn't leave me alone!'

'You just drew him towards you,' Andromache spoke. Briseis didn't know if she should be happy with the fact Andromache did speak again, or be displeased with what she was saying.

'What do you mean?'

'He evidently liked the challenge you posed,' the wife of her cousin explained. 'Testing him was not the smartest thing you could have done to avoid him.'

'Whose attention did you draw?'

Both women turned around to face the woman who spoke. 'Helen?'

Andromache seemed relieved. Briseis didn't understand this, Helen had betrayed Paris and Troy by going back to Menelaus. ''You…'

Andromache stopped her. 'How are you doing?'

Only now Briseis noticed Helen was on the verge of crying. 'I wish Paris came back,' she whispered. Andromache hugged her. Briseis understood, they were feeling the same.

'I heard they never found Hector.'

Andromache nodded. 'He might have died without anyone noticing it.'

'Or he is still alive,' Helen tried to cheer Andromaceh up. 'Then they'll come back for us.'

'How?' Briseis questioned. 'Troy's walls can't be taken, and the Greeks won't be that stupid to let them come through the tunnel.'

'They'll find a way,' Helen stated, but Briseis could hear her doubt.

'But you still did not tell me whose attention you have drawn.' Helen changed the subject.

Briseis swallowed before asnwering. 'Achilles.'

Helen's mouth fell open and closed again. 'You should seek his protection,' Helen advised. Briseis now immediately understood what Helen had been doing. 'You just go for the winner!' Briseis cried out angrily. 'You betrayed your love!'

Andromache put her hand on her arm, which made Briseis look around. A group of Mycenaean soldiers approached, grins on their faces.

Oh No! Could the day get any worse?

Andromache knew resisting would have no use. They were taken down to the party and "presented" to Agamemnon. She knew perfectly well what horrible things were about to come. When a kingdom was taken, the men were killed and the women taken as slaves to fulfill all the conquerors wishes. Hector would never do that to a woman, but Andromache knew she was married to an extraordinary man.

'Lady Andromache,' Agamemnon said, faking courteousness. 'Would you like to join me?'

'Leave her alone!'

Again, Briseis was trying to protect her. She even tried to hit Agamemnon when he grabbed her wrist, but was stopped just in time by Achilles, who had been watching closely. Andromache hoped Helen was right, that Achilles would be good for her and protect her. Because Achilles would take Briseis, she had no doubts about that.

Andromache wanted to tear herself loose and run away, but she found herself stiffened with fear. She tried to think of nice things, just to block it all out. She thought of Hector, her wonderful Hector. She thought of her baby Astyanax, who was the only family member who was safe now. She thought of happier times.

Apollo, she begged the God as Agamemnon took her with him. You can do to me whatever you want. But Please take care of my husband and child.

'Calm down!' Achilles ordered after undertaking several attempts to let Briseis come with him voluntarily. But she wasn't impressed and kept struggling. He would be able to take her with him, Achilles knew that, but then what? He would probably have to tie her down and she would not cease her resistance for hours if not days.

Suddenly he had an idea. He had to wait till he was far away from any Greeks, but it would certainly make the rest of his walk more comfortable.

'Is Hector family to you?' he asked as soon as they were outside.

His question had taken her by surprise; she stopped struggling and looked at him. 'He's my cousin,' she replied weakly.

Good! 'If you behave yourself, I'll take you to him.'

The look on her face was irreplaceable. 'You're bluffing!'

'Do you want to risk it?' he countered. His plan had worked.

He is a liar. No, he is telling the truth. He is a liar. He…. There was a real battle going on inside her head. Briseis just hoped he was telling the truth, that he really would take her to Hector, but she feared it was just a hoax to trick her to come along without resisting. But Achilles had been right; she couldn't risk not being taken to Hector because of her opposition, which most likely would have been futile anyway.

Achilles held her wrist in a tight grip and pulled her along. Briseis saw the outlines of an encampment on the dunes directly to the shore. She saw many men around fires, who were eating, drinking and singing. Briseis understood this was the party of the ordinary soldiers.

But Achilles didn't take her directly into the camp, but walked around it. They finally reached a tent standing a little aside of the rest of the Greek camp. A few dozen men sat on the beach around their own fires, away from the others. Briseis assumed these men were Achilles' Myrmidons, with their own little private campsite.

She was proven right when Achilles took her to the single tent and roughly pushed her inside. She immediately turned around, because she absolutely didn't want to stand with her back to Achilles. The Greek warrior was dangerous and she didn't trust him. He wouldn't take her here for nothing, he wanted something from her. And she was pretty sure what that would be, and very determined not to give that bastard anything. He was a Greek and a murderer, she would rather die than to comply to his wishes.

Achilles didn't come right inside though, leaving her in the dark tent. Briseis tried to make out her surroundings, but did not really succeed very well. She could only see one object; a shield, because it reflected some of the scarce moonlight coming through the opening. For a second she thought of using it as a weapon to hit Achilles, but dismissed it because she probably wouldn't be able to lift it, which was necessary to deliver a good blow.

She also believed she heard something move in the back of the tent. She was slightly startled by this, she hoped it was no dog or some other pet. She had heard all kind of stories of cruel animals used by some to fight the enemy; such as mean dogs, big exotic cats and poisonous snakes.

Briseis found being alone in the dark with "something" to be creepy. So although she hated him intensely, Briseis was almost relieved when Achilles returned with a torch, because now she could see her surroundings. She looked at the back of the tent, and saw there definitely had been something moving. But it wasn't an animal.

It was Hector.