The next day
Patroclus sat on the floor, head laid on his arms that were crossed on top of the bed, he frowned as he stared at the bruises on her arms. 'The bastards.' he growled. "You do know that Achilles will want revenge on Agamemnon for taking you right?" Patroclus implored from his seated position by the bed where Briseis lay. Although he couldn't blame his cousin, Patroclus loved Briseis like a sister.
Briseis smirked "Yes probably and I have no idea on how to convince him not to."
"Heh only in my wildest dreams, would I ever be able to see Agamemnon being tortured by Achilles."
"Hmmm you know I had the weirdest dream last night, I dreamt that the Trojans were attacking the camp and that Achilles had his throat slit, it felt so real..." Briseis kept quiet for a few seconds "Oh never mind it's silly...come Patroclus let's take a walk, I need to stretch my legs."
Patroclus chuckled "'MY' cousin getting his throat slit, yeah like that would ever happen...Are you sure that you did not fall on your head when the soldiers had you?" He laughed and held out his hand to help her off the bed, and out of the tent. It wasn't even dawn yet as they walked across the beach, they could hear soldiers yelling, as they looked over the dunes they could see fire arrows being launched towards the beach.
"Patroclus, what is happening?"
"It's the Trojans." He answered seeing huge balls of hay being pushed over the dunes, his eyes widened as he grabbed Briseis by the arm. "MOVE..." The balls caught fire rolling down the dunes and towards the tents.
Patroclus practicaly had to drag Briseis in the water. "Where is Achilles...ACHILLES!" Briseis cried as she saw three ships and a dozen tents catch fire.
"Briseis NO stay with me, Achilles will be alright if you get hurt he'll have my head." Patroclus grunted as she fought to get out of his grasp.
Then they could hear the clashing of spear on shield as the Trojans marched towards the dunes. As Hector prince of Troy and his army faught the Greeks he could see Achilles leading his Myrmidons into battle.
As Briseis watched the Myrmidons plow their way through the Greeks, flashbacks of the dream she had that night kept running through her mind. She wouldn't let Achilles die. Briseis twisted her body within Patroclus grasp (something Achilles had taught her) and freed herself. She ran towards the camp. "BRISEIS"Patroclus yelled and ran after her.
As Achilles came face to face with Hector, everyone surrounding them stopped doing battle and gave them room so they could fight. Of course who would want to miss the opportunity to actually witness The great Achilles and Hector do battle.
"Did you drink your wine and pray to the gods prince of Troy?" Achilles chuckled.
"Did you?" Hector replied. As they continued to circle each other.
Achilles only smirked and made the first move, which was deflected by Hector's sword.
Briseis made her way up the dunes and watched the battle, then she spotted him. 'Of course, he has to be surrounded by every single soldier on the beach.' She sighed, she was so scared that Achilles would get killed that she didn't notice a pair of arms wrap around her and throw her to the ground. It was one of Agamemnon's men the one who had tried to brand her.
"Well now what have we here...Achilles' little whore." He snickered and started dragging her down the dune, towards one of the tents. "I'll make you pay for this Bitch." He ground out revealing the burn mark on his neck.
"NO, LET ME GO!" she screamed as loud as she could, thrashing around.
Patroclus had lost sight of Briseis, he figured that she was heading for Achilles and since he was in battle. Patroclus headed for his tent and hurridly put on his armor grabbed his sword, and made his way towards his cousin. He met up with Eudorus as he watched his friend fight the Trojan prince.
"Eudorus...have you seen Briseis?" Patroclus asked worriedly.
Eudorus and Odysseus who had heard the question turned to Patroclus. "No why?"
"She got away from me and now I can't find her."
Knowing how much the girl meant to Achilles, and that if she were ever seriously harmed Achilles would go mad with rage and probably kill any man in his way including Greek soldiers. "Eudorus you stay with Achilles I will help Patroclus find the girl." Odysseus ordered. As Eudorus nodded he watched as they ran off towards camp, Achilles and Hector were still fighting each other, although Achilles had heard every word.
"When did you see her last?" Odysseus asked as they ran down the dunes.
"After the fireballs...she told me this morning she had a dream that Achilles was killed and she panicked when the Trojans attacked."
"She's not anywhere near the battlefield, search the nearby tents."
"The soldiers aren't going to be to happy..."
"Would you rather they deal with Achilles' wrath when he returns from battle?" Odysseus questioned.
"Good point." Patroclus yelled as he entered the nearest tent.
Hector's second in command approached his prince. "My prince the battle has ceased perhaps we've done enough damage for the day."
"Yes, I believe so what say you Achilles?" Hector asked.
'Briseis is missing? Damnit, what if the Trojans...' Achilles refused to finish that thought. Standing up straight Achilles pointed his sword to Hector's throat and eyed Eudorus, circling around until his back was to his long time friend Achilles ordered. "Eudorus, since the men have stopped fighting take them back to camp."
"But my lord..."
"Briseis...find her!" Achilles growled.
"Yes my lord, right away." Eudorus turned and gave the order to the Myrmidons.
"Briseis?" Hector looked at the warrior in front of him a surprised look on his face. 'No he can't mean Briseis my cousin...can he?'
Achilles eyed Hector menacingly and sighed. "Consider yourself lucky prince of Troy." As Achilles sheathed his sword, turned and headed for camp.
Eudorus and the Myrmidons arrived by Odysseus' side, "Have you found her?" he asked.
Odysseus shook his head 'no' and eyed Achilles' Myrmidons they all seemed angered, he'd often hear them talking of Briseis, at how kind she was and would often treat their wounds with a warm smile. They didn't like that their Lady was missing.
"Patroclus..." he shouted as the boy turned to the king of Ithaca. Before Odysseus could utter another word.
"LET ME GO YOU BASTARD!" They all heard a woman scream.
"QUIET...WENCH" Briseis yelped as he backhanded her.
Odysseus breathed. "She's within Agamemnon's camp."
"Our lady..." One of the men breathed. Unsheathing his sword.
"Let's go" Eudorus ordered as they all ran towards Agamemnon's camp.
Odysseus entered the tent first, followed by Eudorus, then Patroclus, the others stayed by the entrance. Briseis had been thrown to the floor, her lip was split she had a cut above her left eye, her wrists were bound behind her back. "If you value your life man you will let her go now." He ordered.
"I don't take orders from you king of Ithaca." The man sneered.
"I know you don't, but unless you want to be maimed by the dozen men outside I suggest you do as I ask." To emphasize the kings words, Patroclus held back the leather straps to reveal at least sixteen pissed-off soldiers.
Suddenly feeling quite nervous the man decided to comply to the king's request, "Fine take the whore," he laughed "She's not my type anyway."
Patroclus approached the man and hit him square in the jaw knocking him out, as Eudorus knelt beside Briseis cutting her wrists loose, she was breathing rather harshly and smiled "I really would have enjoyed seeing that."
"See what my lady?" Eudorus asked confused.
"The dozen men maiming that bastard." She replied sweetly.
Eudorus chuckled as he helped Briseis on her feet and out of the tent, where a few of the Myrmidons quickly stepped forward to help her. She smiled "It's a good thing you all arrived in time, after I slapped him a few times. He was starting to whimper like a baby it was really pathetic." The men all laughed as they escorted her toward the Myrmidons camp.
Odysseus smiled 'Well...now I see why this woman means so much to Achilles.' Then he headed off to the battlefield and saw his men returning to their camp. "Well this battle was quick." He muttered to himself.
Patroclus ran in search of Achilles as Eudorus brought Briseis in their tent. "Those wounds on your wrists look serious my Lady, perhaps I should fetch the healer."
"No I'm alright really, would you be so kind as to get me some water?"
"Of course my lady." Eudorus bowed and left the tent, making sure that one of the men stayed at the door to protect the woman within.
"Patroclus!" Achilles called to his cousin as he spotted him near Apollo's temple. Hearing his name he turned and ran to Achilles. "Briseis, where is..."
"She's alright we found her, she's in your tent as we speak, she suffered a few injuries, Eudorus is tending to her."
After dismissing the guard at the door, Achilles entered his tent, Briseis lay on their bed, on her side her left arm under her head her right one across her chest, eyes closed. He eyed her silently after a few minutes he stripped off his armor, poured himself a cup of wine and sat down watching her sleep. Eudorus entered the tent. "I have your water my..." Seeing Achilles with a finger to his lips Eudorus stopped speaking, and left the water on a nearby table. "Is there anything I can do for you my lord?" He whispered. Achilles shook his head and Eudorus left in silence.
Opening her eyes Briseis found herself starring at a pair of azure ones. "Oh your back...Were you injured?" Achilles shook his head no. "What of the rest of the Myrmidons?" Again Achilles shook his head no. After a few minutes of silence she sat up and asked worriedly "Why do you not speak to me?"
Achilles stood up finished his wine, walked to the bed and sat behind Briseis. "Why is it every time I turn around you always get yourself into trouble?" He whispered as his lips kissed behind her ear. His arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back against his chest.
Briseis smiled and tilted her head. "Well...I do have to keep my warrior on his toes don't I." She could feel Achilles smile against her neck. Taking her wrists in his calloused hands he held them up and grumbled, they were badly bruised and bleeding a bit, getting up he grabbed the water basin and a rag and brought it to the bed and proceeded to clean her wounds.
"Oh stop grumbling, there only a few scratches I've been through worse before, I'm not some fragile piece of clay that breaks apart from the simplest touch." She teased as she swatted at his hands, he easily caught them and gently pulled her forward.
"I know that, it's just that...the Myrmidons and I can't always be here to protect you and after what happened this morning, I just..."
"Don't you dare tell me that you wished I was not here, admit it you would go crazy, I need to keep you from killing off the men out of frustration." She grinned wickedly.
Achilles chuckled. "Killing off the men out of frustration!" he quoted, pulling her onto his lap, "What sort of frustration would you be refering to exactly?" He asked teasingly as he kissed and nibbled on her bottom lip, she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, one hand caressing her back, the other her leg, Achilles then wrapped his arms around her waist, leaned back and lay on the bed bringing her with him.
Within the tent their breathing quickened as their bodies were joined as one, moaning each other's name. As they lay together hours later, the blankets long pushed off the bed curled up against each other. He was behind her, his arm wrapped around her waist possessively, the strength with which he held her almost painful. She merely laid there, content to be in his arms. She caressed his arm and tilted her head to kiss his shoulder. "Do you still feel the need to kill off a few men now?" She asked smiling sweetly.
Achilles laughed, "If I say yes will I get the same reaction from earlier?"
"Oh most definetly." She turned in his embrace and kissed him deeply, he rolled on top of her as she wrapped her legs around his waist and moaned.
"Then yes the bloodlust is still within, please calm my frustration." He purred as he moved within her making her scream out his name, Achilles smiled as he leaned his head on hers and whispered to her "I love you" and gave her a gentle kiss.