Chapter 5: Denying the Love

Briseis gasped when realization hit her. She pushed him away and backed up. "I already told you, I can't do this," she interjected. She ran off with tears in her eyes. Achilles leaned back against the railing with sadness in his heart. He loved Briseis, but she was pushing him away.

Briseis found herself by the fountain in the gardens and she cried as hard as she could. Her heart had taken over her, but she didn't want to love Achilles. She wanted to go home All she wanted was to go home. She never expected to fall in love. She sat on the ground looking into the fountain's water. "I never expected to fall in love, I just want to go home," she whispered. She placed her head on her knees and cried herself to sleep. Achilles came out of the house and found Briseis sleeping near the fountain. He picked her up and carried her to the house.

Once he placed her onto her bed and looked at her. "I love you, Briseis," he whispered. If only he had the courage to tell her that when she was awake, but it came clear to him that she didn't want to love him. He then left the room, heartbroken.

The next morning, Briseis pulled on a dress and walked downstairs. She couldn't find Achilles anywhere and stopped Agneta. "Where is Achilles?" She asked.

"Oh! He left early this morning to visit Thetis and Patroclus," Agneta replied.

"Do you know when he'll be back?" She asked.

"No. He normally stays there all day."

Briseis sighed and sat down. "Would you like to come with me? I normally go up there near the afternoon," she suggested. Briseis nodded and decided to go down to the stables to see the horse that Achilles gave her.

Later that afternoon, Briseis and Agneta rode up to see Thetis, Patroclus, and Achilles.

Achilles was fighting Patroclus with fake swords when Briseis found him. "You must be practicing, Patroclus," Achilles commented.

"Of course, what's the use of learning sword fighting moves from you if I don't practice?" Patroclus answered.

Briseis smiled at the remark but then she backed up when Achilles saw her. "Briseis," he murmured. Briseis nodded and then Patroclus decided to leave them alone. Achilles had one foot on a rock and was examining the sword in hand. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I came to see you," she answered.

"Why? To make my heart break some more? Last night, you almost killed me," he snapped.

He turned from her and leaned against a pillar, looking out over the ocean. "I can't look at you anymore, Briseis, not without my heart breaking every second of the way," he pondered.

"I can't love you, Achilles," she repeated.

"You have told me that many times now. I am getting the picture, but my heart can't help but ache for you. Is loving you a crime?" He asked.

She stayed where she sat while Achilles sat across from her. The afternoon sunlight made her look even more beautiful than ever before. "You know that you'll be getting me home soon. Falling in love now would only give us heartache later," she pointed out.

"Why can't we cherish of what we have now?" He asked.

"It's just not possible," she sighed.

"Anything is possible, Briseis, listen to me."

Briseis knew he was standing too close and stood up. "No, you listen. We live in a real world, come back to it. You're a warrior and I...I'm a King's niece. If you follow your thoughts through to a conclusion, it'll take us to a place we cannot go, regardless the way we feel about each other," she snapped. Achilles then knew that she did feel something for him.

"Then you do feel something," he murmured.

"I will not give up my future or let you give up yours," she added.

Achilles walked closer to her. "Briseis, you have to understand that I would do anything in my power to be with you. Please, Briseis, give this a chance at least," he appealed. Briseis shook her head and sighed.

"This can't work, Achilles. You're taking me home as soon as Agamemnon forgets about me," she cautioned.

Achilles sighed as she walked away. He now knew that she had feelings for him, but she wasn't going to admit it. However, the truth sank in. Once Agamemnon forgets about her, he was going to take her to Troy. He sighed and sat down while looking out at the water.

That evening, Briseis collapsed onto her bed with tears in her eyes. She was crying in her pillow. When she finally calmed down, she sat on her balcony with sadness in her heart. Briseis looked out over the gardens and then she heard the door open. Agneta stood next to Briseis with a sigh. "I have come with news from Achilles. He's taking a chance on getting you home. You're leaving in the morning," she informed. Briseis gasped and jumped up.

"I can't believe it, I'm finally going home!" She gasped.

For three long years she was waiting for the time for her to be home, now she was getting the chance. However, she didn't know that Achilles was suffering about her getting home. He was in love with her and he wanted to be with her. Briseis wouldn't admit it, but she loved Achilles with all her heart, but as soon as she would get home, she would forget about Achilles and continue on with her life. She prayed to the gods that Achilles would find another woman that could give him the love that he deserved, but she couldn't give it to him.

That night, Briseis slept easily, excited that she was going home.