Below the ship Achilles grinned as he saw her pout, and swept her up in his loving embrace. They gave each other a long, passionate kiss. Achilles' tongue met hers and their tongues caressed and stroked each other's. Briseis locked her arms around Achilles' neck as they ended their kiss. Achilles' hands found her waist and they relaxed against each other, locked in a perfect harmonic embrace.
Briseis ran her hands over Achilles' chest, he gently pushed her until her back hit the wall and Achilles let his hands go to the back of her thighs and lifted her up, so she could wrap her legs around his waist. As the kiss between her and Achilles became more and more intense. He bit into her lip again and he took the bottom of her dress and brought it up to her thighs. He ran his hand up gently caressing the flesh. His callus hand went to the far inside of her thigh. Achilles moved his lips from Briseis' mouth to her neck as his hands kept exploring. His hand stopped, as there was a knock at the door.
"Remind me to maim whoever's at the door." He whispered, at that she laughed. He let her stand on her feet, kissed her lips and went to open the door. Waiting until she arranged her clothing, Achilles opened the door.
Patroclus looked at Achilles awkwardly as they heard Briseis laughing in the room. "We're approaching Troy." Patroclus looked at the giggling woman with confusion.
"I'll be right there." Achilles answered as he shut the door and walked to his armor putting it on. "And as for you my Lady, you stay below the ship." Briseis took a few steps forward facing him, he looked at her. She had her hands behind her back and was pouting, "Don't do that..."
"Do what my lord?" She asked sweetly. "I'm not doing any..." before she could finish her sentence he captured her lips with his own, until her knees went weak. He picked her up and carried her to their bed and laid her down. "Do not move from this spot." He ordered, and smiled as she gave him a mock-salute.
On deck
As the Myrmidons rowed Eudorus walked up to Achilles "My lord? Should we wait for the others?"
Achilles turns his head at Eudorus "They brought us here for war."
"Yes but Agamemnon's orders..."
"You fight for me Eudorus or Agamemnon?"
"For you my lord." Achilles smiled as he looked at the shore.
As they approached the beaches of Troy the Myrmidons prepared themselves checking their weapons and tightened their armor Achilles saw Patroclus getting ready and called for him.
"Patroclus," He came up to Achilles "Put down your spear"
"But, I'm fighting the Trojans cousin..."
"Not today." Achilles cut him off.
"But I'm ready, you taught me how to fight...this is a war!" Patroclus answered angrily, knowing this was coming from the start.
Achilles pulled him to his chest. "Cousin, I can't fight the Trojans If I'm concerned for you, guard the ship guard my treasure." He whispered.
Patroclus threw his weapons on the deck, as he went below the ship to sit with Briseis. He could hear Achilles speak to his men, the moment they felt the boat as it beached itself they could hear the cry of the soldiers as they attacked Achilles jumped down followed by his Myrmidons and fought the awaiting Trojans.
Apollo's temple
The Myrmidons exited the temple surrounding Hector, a bit disappointed that their conversation was cut short Achilles sighed "Go home prince, drink some wine, make love to your wife, tomorrow we will have our war."
He stared at Hector who still hadn't moved, "tst" he whispered and tilted his head towards the stairs for him to leave.
"My lord you let him go?" asked Eudorus
"It's too early in the day for killing princes."
As he watched Hector leave he entered the temple and stood on its steps to watch the rest of the army take the beach and returned to his camp. He spotted Odysseus "If you sailed slower, the war would be over."
Odysseus chuckled "I'll miss the start as long as I'm here at the end."
Achilles laughed and entered his tent.
As Eudorus entered Achilles' tent, Briseis was looking in a chest for something, and Achilles was washing off the blood and dirt from his face and arms, Achilles spotted his friend and flicked his hand which sent drops of water flying on Briseis. "Hey...Why you..." she turned hearing Achilles chuckle.
"My lady..." Eudorus smiled.
"Hello Eudorus, you didn't get hurt did you?" Briseis smiled.
Eudorus laughed, "Of course not my Lady...My lord, Agamemnon requests your presence..."
Achilles rolled his eyes, "Of course he does..."
As Achilles entered Agamemnon's tent he witnessed the kings give tribute to Agamemnon. Seeing that Achilles had arrived he commanded everyone within the tent to leave them.
All the kings left the tent to give Achilles and Agamemnon privacy. Achilles smirked a little as he approached Agamemnon. "Apparently you won some great victory today." Achilles said in a cocky fashion.
"Ahh perhaps you didn't notice. The Trojan beach belonged to Priam in the morning. It belongs to Agamemnon in the afternoon."
"You can have the beach. I didn't come here for the sand."
"No you came here because you want your name to last through the ages. A great victory was won today. But that victory is not yours. Kings did not kneel to Achilles. Kings did not pay homage to Achilles." Agamemnon said getting frustrated with Achilles. He stood up and approached the young man.
"Perhaps the kings were too far behind to see. The soldiers won the battle." Achilles drawled quirking an eyebrow.
"History remembers kings, not soldiers! Tomorrow we will batter down the gates of Troy. I'll build monuments of victory on every isle in Greece. And I will carve 'Agamemnon' in the stone."
"Be careful king of kings. First you need the victory."
"Your men sacked the Temple of Apollo, yes?"
"You want gold? Take it. It's my gift to honor your courage. Take what you wish."
"I already have. Aphareus! Haemon!"
The two guards that Agamemnon called dragged in Briseis. She was kicking and screaming, her face was bloody and bruised. When Achilles saw her, his gut wrenched.
"The spoils of war." Agamemnon said.
"No argument with you brothers, but if you don't release her, you'll never see home again...Decide!" Achilles seethed his eyes seemed to bore a hole in the men that held his love.
"Guards!" Agamemnon cried.
Achilles drew his sword, ready to defend himself.
"STOP!" Briseis cried, Achilles looked at her with the corner of his eye. He didn't say anything. As she broke free of the men that held on to her. "I don't want anyone dying for me!" she shouted when Achilles looked at her she mouthed off 'Don't...please' she knew how much Achilles hated Agamemnon and that if she was in any danger he would be blinded by his rage and somehow make a mistake and fighting against Agamemnon alone he would surely be killed. And so he listened to her words and lowered his sword.
"Well well the mighty Achilles, silence by a slave girl! Tonight...I'll have her give me a bath and then who knows?" Agamemnon said as he approached Briseis and inhaled the scent of her hair. Briseis looked away in disgust.
"You sack of wine!" Angered by the thought of Agamemnon's hands on his beloved, Achilles pointed his sword at Agamemnon. "Before my time is done, I will look down on your corpse and smile."
He left the tent, angrier then ever.
"Well now, my dear it looks like the easiest way to control the warrior is to hold on to his little whore." Agamemnon laughed running his hands up and down her arms, Briseis felt like throwing up but she wouldn't give the creep the satisfaction of seeing her cry. "Tie her up next to my bed..." he ordered his loyal soldiers. "Don't worry my dear, I won't be too long..." he laughed and left the tent.
That night Briseis tried her best to try and free herself her wrists were now bleeding a few of Agamemnon's soldiers noticed that she desperately tried to free herself and hit her a few times to make her stop, hearing someone oustide Briseis held her breath Agamemnon entered the tent a cup of wine in his hand drinking the last gulp that remained he then threw the goblet on the floor and lied down on the bed, Briseis dared not move. After a few moments the man started to snore, releasing a shaky breath Briseis kept pulling on her arms still trying to free herself, until exhaustion took her.
That morning Eudorus entered Achilles' tent followed by Patroclus. "My lord...my lord the army's marching."
"Let them march, we stay."
"But the men are ready."
"We stay till Agamemnon groans to have Achilles back."
"As you wish..." Eudorus looked around the tent. "Where is your lady?" Patroclus looked at Achilles, anger could be seen in his eyes...
Eudorus whispered. "Agamemnon...He didn't..."
Achilles looked at him "My orders stand, until she is returned to me."
That night after losing the battle and Menelaus was now dead, Odysseus ran his fingers in his hair as they argued, "We need Achilles to win this war...you're your private battle with the man it's destroying us..."
"Did you see your men outside...their moral is weakened because he did not fight...you took that girl from Achilles, he will not fight because you have her..." Nestor acknowledged looking at Agamemnon. He knew just as well as Odysseus that without Achilles they would lose this war.
Agamemnon growled, "He can have the damn girl."
Odysseus and Nestor exchanged looks then Odysseus stared at Agamemnon silently asking him how badly he had harmed her.
Understanding Odysseus' unasked question Agamemnon looked at him innocently. "I haven't touched her!" he defended himself.
"Where is she?" Odysseus asked.
Agamemnon waved his hand in the air dismissively, "I gave her to the men. As you said Nestor their moral is weak..."
Odysseus closed his eyes and put his face in his hands. 'Agamemnon you will be lucky if Achilles doesn't cut off your head after this especially if any harm comes to that girl...'
Briseis grew tired with the lack of food and water not to mention she was emotionally as well as physically drained while trying to escape for most of the night and day, as the men continued to toss her back and forth, they were gathered around. She was scooped up by two of the men. A wave of anger rushed through her as one of them approached her. "Give the bitch to me." One of them yelled. As he came closer she slapped the man across the face. She gasped at her own action as the two men behind her grabbed her again and held her in place.
Briseis watched in horror as he removed a branding iron from the fire. Her eyes widened in fear and she struggled against her captors he approached her with an evil smile upon his face.
"Hold her!" one of the men said, as he neared with the branding iron and laughed.
Briseis used the last of her strength to knock the arm of one of her captors and scratched the man with the branding iron in the face. He regained himself then backhanded her across the face. He brought the branding iron close to her.
"I'll have my way with you my dear...but first..." he chuckled as he was about to push the red hot iron on her soft pale skin.
He never got to finish his sentence. The men around her were yelling 'Achilles!'
The man turned around as Achilles came up behind him, grabbed the branding iron and stuck it against his throat. The man cried out in pain as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. Then one of the men who was holding Briseis came towards them and Achilles hit him with the iron. He then starred all the other men down before throwing the iron to the side. Next he knelt down and gently scooped his Lady into his arms and carried her away.
Now she was in her love's arms where she felt safe with the Greek warrior. She cried softly as Achilles carried her into their tent.
As he slowly laid her down on the soft furs of their bed, Achilles took note of her injuries. Her wrists, arms and legs were scratched and bruised, she also had a few deep cuts. Achilles seethed with rage, 'Those bastards will pay for this.'
"Is the mighty Achilles planning on torturing the men first, or just thinking of giving them a quick death." Briseis whispered, a small smile on her face.
Achilles looked up at her smiling face. "Are you all right? Did Agamemnon harm you?"
"Yes and no, I just received a few bruises from trying to free myself that's all, calm yourself I'm safe now." Briseis mumbled as sleep overtook her.
As she slept Achilles cleaned her wounds and stripped off her tattered robe, covering them with a blanket he laid down next to her holding her close to him.