Briseis and Achilles walked back to the tent after the burial. Briseis was crying but Achilles didn't look very sad at all. He turned to face Briseis.
"Are you ok?" he asked her. She nodded.
"Yes I'm fi…….." Suddenly she was cut off by a large scream from Achilles tent nearby. They turned and Achilles's eyes widened.
"Tecmessa," he whispered.
He turned and ran, Briseis followed him but he reached the tent long before she did. He ran inside. Patroclus was crying in the corner of the tent. Tecmessa was lying on the floor in the middle surrounded in blood. Her own blood. Achilles gasped and ran to her side. He picked up her head and rested it on her lap. Oh Apollo, he prayed.
"Achilles," she whispered. He put a finger to her lips.
"Don't talk. Don't worry. You'll be fine." He said reassuringly.
She had lost a lot of blood. He looked at the wound. It wasn't deep. She could survive he thought. Yes, she'll be fine. But deep down he knew that Tecmessa was dying. He held her close.
"Achilles." She whispered again. "I am dying…" He dropped his head and tears sprung to his eyes.
"No," he said. The tears began to flow as he shook his head. Tecmessa's heart broke.
"Achilles listen to me. I am dying. But I want you to know that….that…" she was finding it hard to talk. She didn't have long now.
"That…..I love you. And I have…..always loved……you." She began to gurgle.
"From the day you……came in when I was…….when I was ten. I loved you. And I ….have always loved…..you. Achilles. I shall always love you. In life you were my…..my hope. And in death you will be my….my peace." Achilles cried some more and held her.
"I will always love you." He replied. "I love you Tecmessa, you hear me! I love you! Please don't die Tecmessa please!" Tecmessa silenced him with a blink.
"I want you to do….two things for me." Achilles nodded.
"Yes…anything!" She smiled. How beautiful she was.
"Please….find my son. Look after him. Do what is best…..for him." Achilles nodded again.
"And Achilles…" he waited for the second thing. "Achilles…..just……remember me." And with that she died. She went limp into his arms and he rocked her back and forth, crying so hard.
"Tecmessa. I will always remember you. Please. Wake up." He let out a huge sob when he looked at her closed eyes.
"No!" He whispered through the tears. "No."
He continued to rock her. He pulled back and looked into her beautiful face. The tears stopped and he almost smiled.
"I will never, never forget you." He hugged her once more. Holding her close he whispered in her ear what she longed to hear.
"My beautiful wife."