Chapter 6

Achilles raised an eyebrow and gaped after Briseis' figure, which was strolling out of his tent. She threw open the flaps sadistically, and without a look at her master, stormed out.

Achilles reached to touch his left cheek, where Briseis' supposed-to-be soft and delicate hand had slapped him so forcefully. He could never imagine such a girl could slap someone so powerfully when she had just recovered from a fever. Well, her slap had not really stung his face, but still.

Achilles frowned a little. It seemed to him that Briseis was very sensitive about her looks, and he should not have provoked her with his plot. He had never expected Briseis would be so mad about it, but it was too late to regret it now. The harm was done: she had slapped him on the face, and he had never been slapped by anyone, let alone a slave girl. No, his slave girl, to be exact. Achilles did not know if he should laugh at himself or fumed over the matter. He was Briseis' master, after all.

Achilles wondered if he should go after the girl to apologize for his little scheme. But the girl might be anywhere, and the camp was huge, it was very hard to find Briseis.

However, Achilles was wrong; Briseis had not wandered off to anywhere else. She had really thought of going somewhere else, but she considered that it was too dangerous in the enemies' camp, when she was so defenseless and unprotected. She was a girl, and she was experienced enough to know that what would the enemies do to a girl when she was captured. It was already very fortunate for her to have a master like Achilles, who did not want her body†maybe she should not ask for more†And he had taken great care of her when she was sick

What should she do? Should she go to apologize to Achilles? Briseis sat down on the sand, just next to the entrance of the tent. Maybe she should have controlled her temper. Would Achilles punish her?

Briseis hugged her knees to herself. She felt so small, so insecure, and so vulnerable. She had not noticed in the past two weeks; but she had missed home desperately. She had tried to put up a strong image, she had tried to think optimistically; but she could not lie to herself: she really, really wanted to go home. Briseis bit her lower lip, not wanting the tears to fall. Maybe if she was killed the day Lyrnessus was invaded, she might be happier. Briseis wanted to brush away those thoughts desperately, but at this certain moment, she could not help but to be pessimistic; she could not bring herself to be cheerful.

Briseis had just tried to cheer herself up when her stomach rumbled audibly. It was very clear to her that she needed to eat. The last time Briseis had eaten was last night, and she was fed by Achilles in his arms. She had eaten very little, and now, she felt like that she was starving. She did have a bite of the dried bread just now in the tent, but that just added to her hunger.

Briseis wondered if she should go back into the tent. It was cloudy, and the wind was cold. Briseis was wearing a very thin dress, and for the first time in her life, Briseis knew how one felt when she was cold and hungry.

But she did not go in. Instead, she had been sitting there until her master came out to find her.

'Briseis,' he said, and Briseis looked at him with her teary eyes. His left cheek, where she had slapped him, was still red, and there was her handprint. In her eyes, he looked very delectable. The sight of him seemed to drive her sadness and misery away, and she smiled at him.

'Every time I found you, you are either standing or sitting next to the entrance.' Achilles said amusedly. He did not seem to mind about the slap at all. Instead, he was still very kind to her. He walked over to her, and lifted her up in her arms gently. 'You have been worrying me. Something dangerous may happen to you if you wander off' Achilles had come out to find her because he had suddenly thought of this.

He cares about me Briseis thought silently. 'Sorry, milord' she said, her head down, feeling embarrassed. She should not have been so repulsive towards him. Yes, his words might be a bit annoying or irritating; but he cared about his slave. He had been worried about her when she had not come back to the tent. Briseis felt a bit guilty. Achilles was, indeed, a very good man.

'Are you cold?' Achilles asked. 'Come into the tent quickly. I don't want you to catch a cold again.'

Without another word, Achilles dragged his slave back into his tent. He was furious with himself: he had wanted to be harsh towards Briseis, seeing that she had slapped him; but he could not bring himself to be ruthless and unkind towards the girl when he saw her sitting on the sand, crying. It was he who had taken her to be his slave, and separated her from her family after all. Yes, she had sometimes been quite cold to him, but he could not help but to find the girl's personality adorable. When he had been taking care of her in the past two days, he had heard her murmuring something about home. He had thought of returning her to Troy, as she had some relatives living there.

But how could he do it? He wanted to keep the girl for himself. He liked to look at her helping him tidying up his things, and he loved it when she washed his back everyday, her smooth hands brushing carefully on his back.

'Milord' Briseis' voice broke his thoughts, and he found that he had been looking into her eyes for more than a few minutes already, and had been drowned in his own thoughts. He realized he was still holding her slender wrist firmly, and he fleeted a look at the contact between the two. Her skin was soft and smooth, and Achilles wondered how anyone could have such skin

He released his grip slowly, like he was letting his life go. He lowered his hand to his side, but his eyes still fixed at Briseis. Now his insides were burning like he was insane. He really wanted to lift up Briseis' veil and get a good long look at her face. Bur how could he? He had promised her not to, and she had promised to be his slave as long as he did not try to look at her face. If he really did break his promise, she would leave him, and he would never see her again; and Achilles would never want it to happen.

Briseis, feeling as perturbed as she could be under her master's gaze, turned and headed towards the table to get rid of the breakfast tray.

Now, in the great warrior's eyes, every movement of Briseis seemed to be very mesmerizing, and he could not tear his eyes away from the girl. Achilles knew it for himself that it was not a good symbol, and he turned to walk out of the tent when he could bring himself to sanity at last. Perhaps he needed some fresh air. But Achilles wanted to talk. Yes, he would go to find Odysseus.

When Briseis turned to walk out of the tent again, Achilles had already disappeared. She looked around in surprise. How could he left so quietly? Briseis shrugged it off, and she headed off to the kitchen (just to imagine they had oneâ€) to return the silver breakfast tray. It was quite near, and it was not quite dangerous. She had gone to the kitchen many times and she could manage to get to it without any harm.

She started towards that direction, and walked off in a snail's pace. She was still quite weak, and she did not want to exhaust herself.

She had been very near to the kitchen hut when someone grabbed her shoulder. Briseis turned, only to find two unfamiliar Greek soldiers grinning at her. She gasped inwardly, and she stepped back. The two Greeks looked at her lustfully, and one of them said as he shot up his hand to grab Briseis' veil, 'Why are you wearing a veil, little whore? No, I want to look at your face.' Naturally, Briseis smacked his hand away, and this action angered the two soldiers.

'Damn you! Whore!' One yelled as he slapped her robustly. Briseis cried out in pain and fell to the sand, dropping the tray. 'Let me teach you a lesson,' he said as he pinned Briseis on the ground. Briseis' eyes widened with fear and she screamed, although she knew no one would come to her rescue. All around the camp were Greeks. Briseis struggled; she must try to free herself from these barbarian soldiers. But he was too strong, and soon, Briseis loosed all her strength and she was even pressed on the ground harder. He started to pull the shoulder straps of her dress, but was stopped by the other Greek soldier.

'Remove her veil first!' the other soldier said, wanting to see Briseis face.

'No!' Briseis screamed.

Bung...

Suddenly, the Greek soldier on top of her freed her and rolled on the ground, knocked out. The one who had been standing fell slowly on the ground too. Briseis looked up at her saviour with her tear streaked eyes, and saw the cook, which was a woman, stood there furiously, holding a metal pan.

The cook smiled kindly at her. 'Are you okay? Well, I hate men who rape young girls like you. You are Briseis, Achilles' girl, right?' Briseis nodded at her, and the cook helped her up. 'I am Argia, come into the kitchen first; we can talk.' Argia was a woman at her mid-thirties; Briseis always saw her when she came to the kitchen.

She led her into the empty kitchen, and found two chairs. Both sat down, and Argia asked if Briseis was hurt. Briseis thanked the woman gratefully, and told her that if she had not hit the two soldiers in time, she would be raped. The woman waved off her thanks dismissively, and asked Briseis why she was wearing a veil to conceal her beauty. Briseis did not lie to her about the 'man dying' story, but told her the truth.

'May I see your face then?' she asked Briseis curiously. 'I'm not a man.'

Briseis pondered for a moment, and reached out to remove her veil. Argia was very kind and friendly; Briseis had sensed it the first day she went into the kitchen. Furthermore, she had saved her life. She was a woman, so why bother to hide her face from her?

Argia seemed a bit surprise when she saw Briseis' face. The two sat there for a moment in silence. Briseis frowned a bit. What was so bad about her face that made Argia so silence? She had always thought herself was quite (quite, okay?) pretty, and she had expected Argia to smile at her instead of having this kind of expression. Feeling uncomfortable again, Briseis put on her veil again.

'You look so much alike with Aphrodite.' Argia said, shaking her head slowly. It seemed like that Argia had seen the goddess of beauty before.

Now, you have to go back to your lord's tent. He would get worried if you still don't show up.' Argia said as she sat up and helped Briseis to. 'I'll walk you back. It's not safe for you to go back yourself.'

'Where have you been?' they were greeted by a concerned Achilles when Briseis entered the tent.

'I've had a talk with Argia, milord.' Briseis answered softly.

Achilles nodded at Argia, and she gave him a meaningful look before she left.

Achilles was puzzled. What did that look mean?


I don't think I can write anymore!!!!

My mind is sooooo blocked!!! I'm too busy!! Give me some time until I update the next chapter!

But do review, 'please's and 'thank you's.