A Kite in the Iliad

TigerTiger

This Begs the Question

Disclaimer- I only own Puck and Briar.

She was a Slayer, one out of thousands. She was a Warrior, and she was a Modern Girl. Which begs the question, what the hell was she doing in ancient Troy? Okay, okay, maybe it was the warrior part, there was a war going on and she is a warrior. But why would the PTB send her to ancient Troy? To an old war that hardly anyone thought was real? Really she did not understand them. To make matters worse she wasn't alone. She was with Dawn and Puck. Now how was she, the eldest, going to get them out of this one? Puck was only 20, Dawn 22, and herself 25. God, she felt old right now. She groaned and glanced about the abandoned temple to see if anyone had heard her beside Puck and Dawn. No one had. It appeared no one would be coming back to; she glanced at the statue, the Temple of Apollo she decided. This temple had already been sacked. She got up and brushed dirt off her skirt. At least they were dressed for the part. She wore a long deep purple two shoulder toga, with a lighter purple-blue belt. Dawn was in dark blue with a light blue belt. And Puck, well Puck was wearing a dark green toga with a light green belt.

"Maybe we should go outside and see what's going on." Dawn suggested.

"No."

"But-."

"No, we could get killed. We're on the Greek side by the looks of it. Who knows what a bunch of angry Trojans would do to us."

"We're Slayers though, Briar. What could they do to us? I mean come on we're probably stronger then five of them." Puck inputted. Briar groaned.

"Valid point. I'll scout, don't get into any trouble."

She made sure she had daggers tucked safely before peaking out. No one. She went further and glanced about. Still no one. She ran to a wall and scaled it. Still no one. Jeez. Bad security much? There was a clatter behind her and she swiftly turned. Puck stood there with a sheepish smile. Thundering footsteps warned her of lazy guards coming back to the post they had abandoned in favor for the cool inside for a nap. One grabbed her and held a knife to her throat. Another grabbed Puck. She watched as Puck tensed her muscles getting ready for a throw. She caught Puck's eyes and shook her head slightly. Puck gave a small imperceptible nod.

"What have we here? Two little Greek girls out to kill the Princes and the King?"

"Actually believe it or not we left the Greek side because they killed our husbands."

"And why would they do such a thing to their own men?"

"Our husbands suggested that we leave since Helen of Sparta came back so freely. Agamemnon was not pleased and had them killed." Briar said and bowed her head as if in pain. "We came to give penance for our wrongs, and to work as Maids here in the household." She said. Inside she was pleading. 'Please make it work.' Considering there were at least twenty guards she didn't notice for ten seconds that someone, or rather, two someone's were making their way through the crowd. They soon stood in front of her and Puck. "Who are they and what do they want?" demanded slightly taller and older one.

"Two Greek women who wish to offer penance in the form of Slavery." Puck said with an edge in her voice. Whoever this leader dude was it was pissing her off.

"You offer penance? What good will penance do with my wife and child killed and my brothers woman gone back to the Greeks." He spat out Greek like it was a dirty filthy thing in his mouth.

"Killed? I am dishonored to be a Greek. How dare one of our own kill a defenseless woman and her child?" Briar said in outrage. Even she tried not to kill demon babies. She pulled Puck into an embrace and started to fake-sob as hard as she could. With that Puck turned on her own water works and soon every man around them began to soften slowly. Hector and Paris's hearts began to soften slightly at the sound of women crying for their women. "You will be my personal maid and you will Paris's personal maid." He pointed at Briar for himself and Puck for Paris. Puck almost started giggling. Paris was beyond hot and she was going to be his maid! Alright not a dream job but at least she might see him shirtless. Yum. Briar was angry. Dammit! How could she be so stupid as to get herself into this mess? It must be the heat or the guys… oh goddess Hector was delicious looking.

Soon she and Puck were being tugged along to the servant's rooms, then to the bath house. Of course they being royal servants they got treated by lower servants. They were waxed, every single part of their body except for their head hair and their eyebrows. It was odd at first being wax everywhere. A few times they were ready to push the eunuchs and slave women off of them but afterward they were given a cleansing bath and then oiled and then cleaned again. Their remaining hair was cleaned, and then they were given massages. Puck moaned in pleasure while Briar enjoyed it but what thinking of escape plans. Soon after that their hair was braided and put into buns at the back of their heads. They stood naked in front of the various slaves to be inspected, given the ok they were soon put into a pair of lilac togas similar to their last ones but with the belt being black with the symbol of a Trojan Slave branded on it. By the time they were done it was nearly nightfall. They were guided by a mute eunuch and they soon found themselves in separate rooms and both felt lonelier then before.

There was a knock on her door and took a moment for it to register in Briar's mind before she spoke. "I'm decent." The door opened a second later and she faced Hector. He let his gaze wander over her appreciatively.

"You look… better." She gave a small nod.

"My first task for you is to get my dinner."

"Yes, my Prince." She said and scurried away finding the kitchens easily with her Slayer sense of smell.

"Prince Hector's dinner." She demanded, the cooks easily gave it up and she went back down the long halls to the room next to hers. She knocked and waited.

"Come in." he said softly. She hurried in and set the medium sized platter before him. She turned to leave and he looked up. His brown eyes catching her violet ones.

"Stay." He said quietly. She found the nearest chair and sat down, crossing her ankles and watched as he picked at his food.

"How are you to win this war if you don't have the strength to fight it if you don't eat properly?" she asked. He gave a chuckle.

"You're right-. I don't know your name." he said out of the blue.

"It's…" she paused thinking of a good Greek name. "Athanasia, my name is Athanasia. Thalia is my friend's name." She added on after a mental conversation with Puck. Willow had taught all potentials how to do that.

"Athanasia…" he let the name roll on his tongue. "Shall I call you Athena?"

"If you wish." She said in a low voice. She liked her new name.

"It's still early. Accompany me to the training grounds." He demanded that of her, but she wasn't at all angry. In fact she wanted to see the training grounds.

Soon they found themselves basically alone, save for Paris who was on the archery range teaching Puck, now Thalia, how to use a bow. Of course she held a smaller, lighter one. Hector grasped a sword and began to practice with an invisible enemy. She noted his style and the way he fought, along with moves she didn't recognize. She watched his graceful movements and the way he seemed like a slayer, well the way he fought anyway. He had taken off his tunic and she watched his smooth muscles strain and relax underneath the tan skin. Yum.

He soon flung the sword down and moved on to something else. She watched him a few moments longer but the urge to have a weapon in her hand over road anything else. She picked up the sword and gave it an experimental twirl. The balance was amazing! She did a parry with thrusts and jabs. Then she did a crescent sort of swoop. A small cry of delight escaped her lips. She went through fancy footwork she had seen in Pirates of the Caribbean and gave a giggle. She was so enveloped in her practice she didn't realize Hector was there until she felt his hard arms come around from behind and his large hands cover her own. He slowed her fevered movements. He showed her a few nifty tricks but she could hardly concentrate. His warm chest was against her back and she could smell the scent of man. She groaned and pulled away, concentrated desperately on the cold steel in her hands. He stopped after a few breathless moments.

"Are you well?"

"I'm…" she drew in a breath, "I'm fine… the sword is a bit heavy for me…" she lied threw her teeth, he probably knew it but he didn't bother to say anything.

"We'll move onto the staff." He hefted a long stick with two cushioned ends and showed her a few passes. Briar was not very experience with a staff or a sword. She was better at knives, stakes, and crossbows. She grasped the staff in her hands, and felt a rush through her as the knowledge of the Slayers before her ran through her brain, their power and skill rushed into her muscles and her veins. The thrill of the fight rushed to her with such a force it left her panting. Immediately, when his staff moved a fraction she met it, stunning him by the look on his face. She brought her staff up and pushed his to the ground. There was a stand-off of will-power. Who would break first? She met his eyes and faltered. The look was something akin to a look she had seen in Buffy's eyes when they first met; Buffy had been trying to convince her to join them, a look of utter determination. He broke through her defenses and was able to fling her staff off without a word. She gave a gasp as he lifted the staff. She blocked and jumped as he tried a leg sweep.

Dull clank like noises informed her mind that the battle was still raging. Slayer mode had kicked in and she couldn't think. Couldn't stop until she had him down. The toga was constricted her movement.

"Excuse me." She said and in a split second tore off most of it until it resembled a free flowing mini-skirt. She brought up her staff in time and there was a crack. She quickly dodged to the right and swept his legs from beneath him. She twirled her staff to his throat and kept it pressed there. His sweaty chest was heaving up and down. She had barely broken a sweat. She tossed the staff away and offered a hand. He grasped it.

"H-how did you-?" he left the question and just stared, at her now uncovered legs. 'Alright I know my legs are nice but jeez!'

"Perhaps talking about this in private would be better."

"Yes of course…" he agreed.

She glanced back at Paris and Puck-come-Thalia. She was gazing up at him and laughing. 'I guess she hit the target.' Paris gave Thalia a gentle smile and leaned his head down, giving her a short lived kiss. 'At least someone's having fun.' She thought angrily.

Around the time Puck left, Dawn's POV.

Dawn wasn't a patient person. Waiting five minutes was hard enough but she had been told to wait period, as long as it took. She stretched and shifted. Goddess this was boring. She let her head fall back and loll to the side. She stared at the ceiling for a moment longer before jumping up. "That's it! I can't take it anymore!" she said, "I'm out of here!" she stalked to the back entrance and without looking walked outside to admire the sea.

A knife was soon at her throat. "And who might you be?" a male voice whispered in her ear. His lips brushed the shell lightly and she felt a shudder pass through her. His arm was around her waist and his thumb was stroking small circles on her side almost absently.

"Dawn." She said quietly.

"Dawn." He repeated. "A pretty name for a pretty girl." He released her and stepped back allowing her some room. She stuck out a hand to shake but he bowed instead and gave it a gentle kiss.

"My name is Achilles." He said. A rush went through her. Oh… and by the stories she had thought he would be some Goliath looking guy. But he was instead at least five inches taller then her. He had golden hair and blue eyes. Meow.

"You're not Greek are you?"

"Nor am I Trojan."

"Then what are you?"

"Sunnydalian." He quirked an eyebrow and left his question to his eyes rather then his mouth. "I hail from a place called Sunnydale." She said. After studying nearly ten languages at a time, this was a piece of cake, piece of crumb cake. He gave her an impossibly gently smile and took her hand.

"Come we will go to my tent." She nodded. 'If he tries anything at all…'

But he didn't he listened to her story of how they were trying to close a portal. Of how only Dawn could truly close it but they had been sucked in after her, and how as they listened to the war rage outside and felt angry they weren't out there. She told him of her past, excluding the Key-ness on her part. When she was finished she felt exhausted.

"Seems like you were sent here but the gods."

"Well they do have a very sick sense of humor." He smiled.

"Rest now. We will talk more in the morning." And so Dawn laid her head down and slept. Her dreams jarring and confusing. But when she woke she felt resting and was surprised to Achilles sitting by the "door" with his sword in his lap.

"Did you sleep?" she asked quietly.

"No. I had too many questions running through my head. I also did not want anyone to sneak in while I slept." He gave her a wry grin and she returned it with a soft smile.

Back with Puck, around the time when Hector first knocked on Briar's door.

She had been communicating with Briar for some time and they agreed on what their names would be. Hers would be Thalia and Briar's would be Athanasia. A knock lifted her from the conversation. With a hasty 'gotta go' she left Briar's mind.

"Come in." a second later Paris was inside her doorway.

"Are you hungry?" he asked gently. He didn't seem like a fighter, more like a 'let's just all get along' kind of guy. But perhaps not so much as she thought about how he had stolen Helen of Sparta.

"Yes. I am."

"Come let us go to the kitchens." She nodded and he led her through the halls. At first neither said anything, considering she trailed behind him like a good slave. "Come, talk with me." He requested and she obliged.

"What would you like to talk about? The War?" he groaned.

"Anything but the war." She gave a small smile. "Tell me. I know you didn't come from Greece. Their women act differently. Where did you come from?"

"A land far, far away… in a time long ways ahead…" he glanced at her in a confused look mixed with stun. He obviously didn't get her pun.

"And what are you meaning by that."

"I mean I am from a place across an ocean and through time."

"Time… You were granted the ability to travel time?" she shook her head.

"Nah, just lucky enough to fall through a portal that took me here. Look can we talk about this later?"

"Yes. Was the fruit good?"

"Very." She said as she finished off a mango. She seductively licked the juice off her fingers and watched him avert his eyes.

"Would you like to see the garden?" he asked.

"The training area actually." He stared at her in disbelief.

"But you're a-."

"Where I come from, lots of women fight. In fact nearly all of the people who fight are women." She was only slightly embellishing, the fact was, now that there were thousands of Slayers who were all women, made the scales tip a bit toward women fighting.

"Really?" his eyes wide he rattled off questions. Asking her about techniques, what weapons she used, and how did she know so much?

"We'll talk later." He watched as she began to get the look of someone in their comfort zone. Hector sometimes had that look. He watched as she picked up different weapons, assessing them and testing them on a dummy.

"Would you teach me in secret to battle with a sword?"

"In exchange."

"For what? I have no advice I can offer a skilled warrior." She turned back at him with a light blush spreading on her cheeks and chest.

"I'm afraid I'm not that skilled. I'm not good at Archery at all. Would you teach me?" he nodded and got out a smaller bow for her. Standing behind her he adjusted the way she held it and such. Then he mimicked the way she stood. He put his hands over hers and drew the bow back.

"You want to keep your elbow down when you pull back. And keep your other arm straight. Aim… Have you got it?"

"Yes." She said in a small voice.

"Fire." She fired but it smacked against the wall instead. He helped her work on her aim and stepped away.

"Steady… steady… fire!" the arrow went into the nearby tree. He sighed and stepped back to his position behind her. She heard a noise and turned her head. Briar stood there with Hector. She watched them walk away and saw the way Briar enviously stared at Hector work out with the sword. But as soon as he stopped and pulled his shirt off Briar got a faraway look in her eyes. Puck smirked knowing that Briar was suddenly very interested in the cloud patterns for a reason. Puck snuggled into Paris. He was suddenly very rigid.

"I'm cold." She told him. He took his cloak off and draped it around her shoulders.

"We can finish this later."

"No. I'll be fine."

She notched an arrow and glanced at Briar who was having her fevered movements settled by Hector. Briar's eyes glanced around panicked and she pulled away from Hector, muttering something about the sword being too heavy. Paris stood back and she let the arrow fly. It missed the target by an inch. She glanced back ay Briar and Hector who were fighting using staffs. She watched Briar jump and avoid a leg sweep. The dull clanks lulled her and she fell back against Paris. She notched another arrow and it hit about a ring away from the center. Determined to make the bulls-eye she positioned her arrow and took a glance at Briar who helping Hector up from where she had managed to put him with a leg sweep. She glanced at the target moved her aim a bit to the left and there was a dull thunk as it hit the center. She gave a cry of delight and tossed her arms around Paris. She jumped a couple of times and pulled back.

"I did it!" she sang out she gave him another hug and then pulled her head away to look at him. His eyes held a soft look and he bent his head to catch her lips in a soft kiss. The door nearby clanked shut as she let herself be swept away by another gentle kiss.

TT: that's all I have for now. I've been getting into Buffy and I saw Troy and loved it! I decided to combine them. Kind of. Although the only real character from Buffy until a few chapters will be Dawn. What do you think? Flames accepted… I need a tan.