When I woke next I was lying in a bed that was unfamiliar to me. I blinked and frowned when I realised that I was alone. I didn't want to move I was in so much pain, and my head was banging. It had been an unfair fight. Two on one. I still could have beaten them if they'd had told me! Then I would be ready!

I lifted my hand to my forehead only to realise that I was covered in blood. I felt so faint and weak…a feeling I had never experienced before.

I groaned and rolled over, stumbling out of bed. I walked over to the closed wooden door and tried to open it. It didn't budge. I was locked in.

All that was lighting the room was one small candle that was almost running out. I began to panic; I really didn't want to be plunged into darkness.

I squeaked when it eventually happened. I could see nothing. Not the glow of the moon, nor the rays of the falling sun. What time was it? Whose bed was I on?

"Hello!" I cried. I held on to the door and began to shake it.

"Anyone!" I screamed.

I suddenly began to cry, much to my astonishment. I cursed the tears that feel down my cheek, washing away the blood.

Stop it! I ordered myself.

"Please! Open the door! Let me out!" I felt like I was locked in a tiny cupboard. This time I really did try to stick my fist through the door but all I succeeded in door was blooding up my bruised knuckles. I winced and moaned. I sunk down to the floor.

Suddenly the door flung open and knocked me over to the side of the room. I rubbed my back. I must've looked a right site! Covered in blood, bruises, cuts and tears. I would never, not in a million years, have suspected I would ever end up in this position. The person entering held a candle. He looked at me and laughed. I couldn't stand it! I had never been laughed at like that! That was how I laughed at people!

"What are you doing on the floor, My Prince." The man said. I immediately stood up despite all the pain in my body. This man would NOT see a weak Achilles. He walked to me, holding a candle, and put his hand under my elbow moving me to his bed. I sat down thinking he just wanted me to be comfortable. He walked away, lighting candles around the room that I hadn't seen before.

"It must've been dark in here without these candles on. I hope you weren't frightened."

"No," I lied. The man nodded and returned to me. I was very pleased to notice that he had blood running down his cheek too.

He picked up a sponge and started soaking my wounds. Who the hell does he think he is! I shouted inside my head. I am not some female slave who has just survived a beating, for him to clean at his will. I elbowed him right in the face and he stumbled backwards confused. I had moved very quickly, he had probably barely seen it.

"Get off me," I whined. He laughed but came back to me again.

"So…do you want to take your clothes off or shall I do it for you?"

I looked up at him, shocked and mocking. As if, I laughed to myself. There is no way this man would EVER beat me one on one.

I laughed allowed.

"Get lost," I told him. He shook his head, his brown hair falling in his eyes.

"No, you said that whoever beats you gets to lie with you tonight."

"Ha! You must be joking. I'm not going to sleep with you." I put emphasise on the 'I'm' and 'you.' I was way too good for him.

"Yes you are," he insisted, not even getting angry. Was he so confident that I was going to give in? Then I thought, wasn't this what I wanted? Didn't I want to be with someone tonight, so that I wasn't alone? Yes, of course I did, but I didn't want to be taken this way. I'd sooner die. Or rather, I'd sooner he died.

"Look! I am not sleeping with you." I laughed hard after I said this. I hope it made him feel about one inch tall. It didn't unfortunately.

"I won! You said that the winner…"

"I know what I said!" I interrupted, "but it was unfair! You friend joined in, and might I add that if I knew the two of you planned to fight me I could take you easily. I just wasn't ready for it."

This time he laughed. How dare he not believe me!

"I'm sorry Prince, but you said anything goes…those words came from your own lips."

"No I…" Oh damn it! Why did I have to say that? What I meant was you were allowed to hit anywhere! He laughed at my abrupt halt.

"You know what I meant!" I wailed. I was getting louder and louder. I was seriously loosing my temper. How pleasing, maybe I would belt this guy. On the other hand, it was most unsatisfactory when he smiled. He knew that he was getting to me.

"But what you said was something quite different, My Prince." I growled.

"Stop calling me Your Prince! Is that turning you on?" He laughed again.

"Well, I'm afraid you said it yourself. Anything goes. And anything did go." He laughed at his witticism. It made me want to cut his head off. I had been wrong may times before, purely because I did things without thinking of the consequences. However, when I was wrong before I usually just beat that person up. It made me feel better.

I started shaking with anger.

"Well it wasn't even you who knocked me out. It was…that other guy."

"Indeed…so would you rather he slept with you?" I frowned. Damn it.

"No! He wasn't my opponent. My opponent did not knock me out; therefore I do NOT sleep with him. Settled?"

"Actually, no it isn't settled. In that case, I deny that he knocked you out. I say it was me. Prove me wrong Prince! I have friends who would vouch for me." I took in a deep breath and pushed it out through my nose, making myself madder and madder. I jumped off the bed and punched him in the face, hard!

He flew back but didn't lose his balance. Instead he just threw what it was he held in his hand at me.

I forgot that thing happened to be a burning candle. It caught my cheek and went out with a ffthz as it burned my flesh.

I moaned as he stood up and pushed me back on to the bed. For a terrifying second I thought he was going to climb on top of me, but he didn't.

"Who…the hell….are you!" I whispered. He smiled at me as he bent forward.

"I am Phoenix, the myrmidon."

I had never been so pleased in all my life. I literally yelped in joy and laughed in his confused face.

"What?" he said,

"Do you have no idea who I am?" I laughed, pushing him off me.

"You are Achilles. Prince of Thessaly, son of Thetis the sea Goddess."

"And…?" I asked

"Um…I don't know." I laughed.

"Who is my father you idiot!" He raised an eyebrow.

"I couldn't tell you."

"Then why do you call me prince? If I am a prince then surely my father is a king. If you don't know my father then how do you know I am a prince?"

"I have heard the others speak of it." This was surreal.

"How can you not know that my father is Peleus, Son of Aeacus?"

I saw him frown.

"Yes I know damn well who you are Prince. I know that your father is Peleus but I don't care. What he doesn't find out wont hurt him."

I jabbed his shoulder.

"You don't get it do you? I own you Phoenix! I own the Myrmidons!"

I remember Thetis telling me that my father has given me his army, the Thessalonians, as my own, to fight for me in Troy.

"Your father owns me. You don't."

"Talk to Agamemnon if you don't believe me! He must know that the Myrmidons belong to me. He knows the leader of every army! You fight for ME Phoenix!" I threw my head back and laughed, I'd like to say manically.

Mist my laughter I saw him draw back his fist ready to hit me again. I may have been laughing, but I was still the greatest warrior. I caught his lunch before it hit my eye, and I threw it back at him. I lifted up my knee and caught him once again between his legs. He cried out and instantly rolled off me.

Suddenly the door flew open and half a dozen people flew in. I recognised a few from on deck. I looked at the position that I was in and instantly changed it. I looked like they had just saved me from rape!

I closed my legs and frowned at them.

"Are you the Myrmidons?" I questioned. Suddenly from behind me Phoenix cried out.

"The bastard thinks he owns us!" I heard them laugh.

"Peleus owns us, Young Prince."

"NO, actually I do. He's given you to me as my own army, to fight for me in Troy." Some laughed; some frowned and exchanged confused glances. I would never have guessed that during the end of the war, these disobedient men would have grown to almost love me, worship me and do anything I asked. I would have never believed it had someone told me then.

"What are your names?" Quietly they answered.

The first was a man with brown hair and dark blue eyes.

"Eudorus, grandson of Phylas" he told me. I nodded and moved on. The next was a young man, only a few years older than myself.

"Automedon, son of Diores," he said.

"Ctesios," said another.

"Menesthius, son of Borus."

"Peisander, son of Maemalus."

I nodded and smiled at each of them. I walked to the last man in the room. He was about twenty. He was blonde like me and he also had my eyes.

"Who are you I asked him?"

"I am your second cousin, Achilles. My name is Patroclus, son of Menoitios. I was your father's cousin. I am not a Myrmidon. I was sent by your father to teach you." I smiled, trying not to be rude. There was little this man could teach me. I turned to Phoenix.

"Who are you again?" I asked, deliberately irritating.

"Who don't remember me one bit do you, Achilles!" he spat. I was confused.

"I am Phoenix, son of Amyntor. I was your tutor as I child. I taught you when you were young, five I believe. I would have been eighteen. You were a spoilt child, arrogant but remarkable. I remember you."

I didn't remember.

I turned around to portray my Myrmidons.

"How many do I have?" I asked. Patroclus looked up.

"There are fifty of us. We are rumoured to be the greatest warriors in the east. We now march under your orders."

"And what of Ajax? I have heard of him. Is he not my cousin? Is he a Myrmidon also?"

"No, My Lord, he is not. He sails as a king, a leader of his own army."

"I see."

I turned around to see the Phoenix. I laughed at him. He was on the wrong side of me now. I was thrilled. I spat at his feet, and turning on my heels I left them.

There knew leader was a sixteen year old Prince from Thessaly. I wish I could have stayed to hear them talk about me, but I had made my exit.

I had also made my deathbed.