Chapter 8

'I'm going to the High King's ship to discuss some matter on the war,' Achilles said to Briseis after they have had their breakfast the next day. 'Be careful, don't leave the tent, ok? It's not quite safe out there…'

'I understand that, milord, thanks for your care.' Briseis replied quickly.

Achilles smiled warmly at her, and Briseis averted her gaze a bit. There was something about his eyes that made her felt perturbed in some way. She turned to tidy up the her lord's things, desperately wanting to find an excuse not to look at him. But he grabbed her arm, so Briseis had no choice but to look into his affecting and soulful eyes. There was something in his eyes that was not there in his eyes before… What was that? After what seemed like hours to her, Achilles opened his mouth just to said, 'Briseis, I…err… just, be careful, okay?'

'Thanks again, milord…' Briseis was sure that there was something else that he had wanted to say, and Briseis was surprised that she wanted to know what that was. 'By the way, milord, is there anything else you want to say?' Briseis asked suggestively. Briseis looked at Achilles with great anticipation when Achilles started to open his mouth again.

'No, I don't think so…' Achilles' answer was a bit uncertain, but it still disappointed Briseis a lot. He left the tent, and left Briseis there to stare after his back. Briseis could not understand herself. She had just been so uninterested in her master in the past few weeks, but why had she suddenly grown interest in him? Was that something she was not supposed to feel? He was her enemy after all…

Briseis had sat there for a long time, thinking over what did that look mean. No one would ever know when she was going to wake from her daydream, until the flaps flew open, and Briseis turned her head towards the source of the noise. She had thought it would be Argia coming to collect the breakfast trays, but it was someone that surprised her. It had been a few days already, but Briseis could still remember his face clearly. It was the man who had attempted to rape her.

'Hello, my dearest…' Briseis winced at his words. His voice was filled with covetousness and lust, and it made Briseis panicked. She stepped back a bit, trying to be as far as she could be from him.

'No need to be shy… it's only you and me now.' The soldier said as he loomed towards the small and defenseless girl.

'Don't you dare come close to me!' Briseis yelled at him, trying to be as fierce as possible. But it was no use. The fear and helplessness in her heart was already revealed in her expressive brown eyes. Briseis' eyes darted from here to there, trying to find someway of escaping. But he was blocking every way of which she could use to escape… Now, she only had one choice: to grab anything she could reach for and throw it at the scoundrel soldier.

The first thing she could reach was the silver breakfast plate, and she threw it at him forcefully. Briseis was surprised at how powerful she could be, as when the soldier dodged and the breakfast tray hit the weapon rack, it collapsed it the ground immediately. Achilles' weapons were all over the floor, and Briseis threw herself towards the mess, trying to grab one of them.

However, the soldier was a lot quicker than Briseis, and before Briseis knew what was happening, she was already pinned down on the ground feebly.

'Now, no more of these worthless struggle, whore. We have to get this quick.' The soldier said as Briseis still tried to kick him desperately. But he was heavy, and Briseis had no more strength left.

He reached for Briseis' veil, and Briseis turned her head, trying desperately not to let the veil be pulled off. 'No! Not my veil! Please!' Briseis pleaded, and her vision started to grow blurry as her tears stung her eyes. She screamed out loudly for help, but the man paid no heed to Briseis.

Briseis watched in horror as her veil was thrown to the floor. She turned her head and shut her eyes at once, although she knew it was no use now. He had already seen her face. Now she could not control her tears anymore, and they flew down her cheeks like two little streams. Briseis shut her eyes tighter, waiting for what would be coming next; it would be even more horrible. But it did not happen. Briseis opened her eyes and turned to look at what was happening. Yes, the man was still on top of her, pressing her down onto the floor, but he was not doing anything; he was just staring at her face silently, like the world around them had stopped spinning.

Briseis dared not to move, as she was afraid that any tiny movement of hers would wake this man from his stillness, and he would continue to do what he had intended to.

They had been like this for a few minutes, until the flaps of the tent was suddenly flown opened and the soldier jumped off from Briseis like he had been lying on top of a piece of burning coal. Briseis turned her head away from the flaps too. She quickly grabbed her veil, which was lying quite near to her, and put it on. She then turned towards the source of the noise, and saw her master, who was fuming with rage and ire, stood there murderously. There had been a long silence between the three when Achilles opened his mouth at last.

'What have you done to my girl?' He roared, and the soldier looked frightened.

'I…I…I didn't…' the solder glanced at Briseis, and Achilles followed his gaze. His eyes softened a bit when he looked at the poor girl, tear streaked, frightened.

'Are you not afraid of death?' Achilles bellowed, and drew out his sword from its silver sheath. He reached out to grab the soldier's collar, and held him up. 'What do you want to say before your death?' Achilles asked grimly, and Briseis gasped. Achilles was going to kill the soldier.

The soldier stole a glance at Briseis. 'I… just want to know her name…'

Hearing his words, Achilles was angered even further, and he said nothing, but just raised his sword. 'You don't deserve to know her name!' He bawled at him. 'Milord!' Briseis managed to choke out; she was also startled by Achilles' anger. Achilles had been so caring and gentle in front of her, and she could never imagine him of being so frightening. Perhaps it was why the people were so scared by him when they were telling his story. Maybe they had seen Achilles so furious before.

Achilles did pause for a moment, before he said calmly to Briseis, 'If you want to plead for him, forget about it. He deserves more than death.' Briseis pondered over Achilles' words. It was true; the man had tried to rape her, and she would have felt a lot different now if he had succeeded. She might even thought of killing herself if he had done so… yes, he is unforgivable…Briseis decided. But caring was Briseis' nature, and she could not help but having sympathy on the man. So, she turned to him. 'My name is Briseis, if you would like to know…'

But Achilles still killed him anyway, and Briseis closed her eyes, avoiding herself to look at the scene. Hearing the slash of Achilles' sword on the man's flesh was already very revolting to her. Briseis thought she might even throw up if she saw the death of the man.

Briseis kept her head turned to the opposite side until Achilles called for his men to pull out the corpse of the dead soldier. She then turned her head towards Achilles, and looked at him with trepidation and fear. She could not even imagine how terrible would her days be if her lord treated her in a way like he had just treated the man who tried to get pass her. And now she felt discreditable and shameful. The man had seen her face; and she was nearly raped by him…

'Briseis… are you alright?' Achilles asked as softly as he could. The girl looked so fragile, and he was afraid that she would be scared by him.

Tears came to her eyes, and Achilles felt his heart sank: he had not been able to protect his girl, and she was now harmed physically and mentally by some unknown soldier. 'He looked at my face…' Briseis said softly, and Achilles nearly laughed out at himself. He took a good look at Briseis. She was still fully dressed, although she did not look as tidy as she had been. He smiled gently at her; this girl was just so unpredictable. What did it matter when she was just being looked at in the face? Yes, he knew she cared about that a lot, but hey, it was no big deal comparing to being raped. But he still kept the kind smile on his face, bent down and leaned towards Briseis.

She backed away a bit, still afraid. 'I will not harm you, at least not in that way.' He said gently, and he reached out to touch the girl's right arm. Her skin was soft, and it felt like he was holding warm silk…

'Nor I will look at your face.' He added quietly.

Briseis looked up at him like a sheepish little child, and nodded. Achilles hesitated; not knowing if he should drew the girl into a hug. She had just nearly been raped by some man, and he did not know if Briseis felt safe to be touched by another man now. But Achilles need not worry; Briseis had already thrown herself into his arms before he had even reached out his hands to embrace her. He patted her back comfortingly, and he felt her relaxed a bit.

'I'm afraid…' she said suddenly.

'You should be,' Achilles said softly.

'It's so horrible…' Briseis murmured, her voice muffled by the closeness of them.

'I know it is…' Achilles comforted her.

'Milord, if you don't mind,' she said looking up at him. Achilles nodded at her, ushering her to continue, 'I have just been talking about you…' she said timidly.

Achilles felt himself blushed a bit, but he looked away, trying desperately not to reveal his embarrassment. 'Why am I so horrible?' he asked shakily. He wanted to laugh at himself.

'About how you've been so unkind and cruel towards that soldier…'

Achilles chuckled. 'I promise you that I'll not treat you that way. I never will.'

'Really?'

'Really.'

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That's all for now. I don't really know what I can write for this chapter…

Review… Thanks.