After Troy
Chapter 16 – Action Stations
Briseis was a little alarmed when she re-entered the inn to find it a hive of activity, with people running everywhere and everyone busy. Alec raised an inquisitive eyebrow when he entered behind his sister and stood quietly, with his arms lightly folded, as he waited for some sense to be made of the scene.
"Briseis!" Hector smiled when he saw her. He walked toward he, tailed closely by Aeneas and Achilles.
Briseis smiled, ever so briefly, before gasping and raising her hands to her mouth.
"By the gods!" She cried. "Hector, how are you here?"
"You've said it already. The gods made a... mistake, and I am here. Unfortunately Paris is dead."
"But he'll be back." Achilles put in.
"Before you know it." Aeneas added.
"How?" Briseis asked, barely able to speak a word. She was still confused by the situation. Fortunately Alec, having spotted his various relatives, stepped forward to greet Hector and Aeneas.
"Alec!" Hector grinned as he embraced his cousin, Alec had always been a particular favourite of his.
"Hector, I feared you dead!" Alec held him at arm's length.
"I was dead." Hector laughed at the oddity of this situation. "Moreover, I feared Lyrnessus taken and you dead!"
"Lyrnessus was taken, but not destroyed like..." He trailed off, Troy had been a home to him for much of his life.
He had studied there, learnt reading, writing, swordplay, and as much as he could of the wider world. Of course, most of these things he learnt because he never planned to put them into action. He was good at reading and writing, but he only did it when necessary, and rarely read for pleasure. He was also a master swordsman, but he hated fighting, and avoided it where he could. And though he learnt all that Troy could teach him of the world, he knew he would never leave, he loved his home too much.
"My cousin, Troy is no longer ours. Dwell not on the past, it is the future we must concern ourselves with. One of us in particular." He indicated to Aeneas, who smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"Aeneas?" Alec questioned with a smile. "You have something to do with our future? Please, tell me you are not planning an attack on those bastards, the Achaeans." He grinned, though Hector and Aeneas seemed awkward.
"Don't worry about me." Achilles said, using his new found talents to perceive their thoughts. He had been experimenting a little. "I never really allied myself with them. I am ruled by no king. I fought for my homeland and my friends."
"I should introduce you." Hector began.
"No need." Alec was glaring at the warrior before him. "Achilles, is it not? My sister's captor and my cousin's murderer." He accused.
"The same." Achilles said, tempted to smile. He saw no use in denying it and watched Alec with his head cocked observantly.
"Alec." Hector intervened quickly. "It was a fair contest, and I had killed his cousin. It was... somewhat, necessary, I suppose." Hector himself still hadn't entirely made peace with Achilles, but wished no arguments to be had on his behalf.
"And he was my captor, but only briefly. I told you this, he saved me from those other men." Briseis said, placing a hand on his arm.
Alec was still not satisfied but, for his sister's sake, he stood down.
"Hector." Briseis addressed him again, though she was still slightly nervous about talking to him. "What is it that is happening here?" The room still hummed with people's chatter and the scuffling of feet and the shuffling of maps.
"Oh, yes. I have yet to explain. The gods have decreed that we are to make a journey with the remains of the Trojan population, and rebuild what we once had." Hector paused. His dear cousin had taken in a lot in the few minutes she had been present.
"A journey?" Briseis asked. She, too, was none too fond of traveling abroad. "To where?"
"To Italy. We will be building a new town there, starting a fresh, free of the threats we, here, face."
Briseis smiled and held Alec's hand to reassure him. She would not make the journey to Italy, and they both knew it.
"Hector, my dear cousin. Have you a ship?" Alec asked.
"Not yet. Have you any ideas where to find one? We are a little pressed for resources."
"Not find one, as such. I can, however, help to finance and construct one. I will begin immediately."
"Good. And tell all that you see of our plans, bar, obviously, the Achaeans." Hector smiled.
"I'll go right away." Alec left without another word to see what he could do.
Aeneas returned to his maps to further plot the best route of travel. After one more embrace with his cousin, Hector, too, left to concentrate on preparations.
Achilles watched Briseis carefully, gauging her reactions. He still cared for the girl, still loved her, in a way. It was just that the true essence of his heart lay with another, with Paris.
Briseis noticed the distance between them, noticed the reserve that had not existed so greatly the previous evening. She moved closer, though only in a physical sense.
"Achilles." She said softly, taking his hand and looking up into his eyes. "When they depart for Italy, know that I will not be going with them. Lyrnessus is my home and I plan to stay here."
Achilles, deciding it was best not to tell her of his and Paris' new-found love, nodded and bowed his head. "I understand, but it is the gods' wish that I am to go with the travelers."
"I see. Then, a few day's hence, we part forever." Briseis felt a growing sadness.
Achilles nodded again and embraced Briseis. Very soon he felt a few soft tears seep through his clothing onto his chest. He pulled her back to wipe them from her face.
"Might we spend one last night together?" Briseis asked, craving his closeness one last time.
"No." Achilles told her, though it was a test of his self control, his body craved it so. "I think it is best that we do not." He would remain beholden to Paris.
In the Underworld Paris' consciousness wandered alone. He felt as though he was sleeping, without being entirely at rest. At last he was summoned to Hades' chamber where he hoped to find some explanation. Paris stood, feeling more physically present now, and gazed around the mighty chamber of a dark polished stone.
"Your brother looked less bewildered when he first viewed it." Hades spoke appearing from a thick dark mist.
"You..." Paris glared. "You tricked me."
"I did nothing of the sort. Besides, I was doing it as a favour for someone else." Hades sat in his high marble and silver throne.
"I demand that you return me to Achi..." Paris cut himself short, not wishing to tell anyone of that just yet.
"It's alright. I know. And you will be returned, all in good time." Hades sat back and conjured up a chair for the young man before him. Paris refused to sit. As he did, Hades contemplated the mortal's beauty. It had been true what Aphrodite had said about him. "While you are here, however, I wondered if you might," he mentally forced Paris onto the chair, "tell me a little of your world."
A/N: Gilrean! How's the chapter going. Honestly, I really want to read it! I do, I do! Oh, I can't wait! And Peanut, I am so pleased to see you are true blue Alaskan. (P.S, are any other Aussies tempted to break into song when they see the phrase 'true blue'? No? Just me.... Fair enough) And the rest of what you said in your review was far above my intellect when I read it. I'll try to make sense of it between now and next time. bradleigh, the deal will all be made clear, though some of you might not respect it. But I swear, I have all your interests in mind! Yana! I'm currently talking to you on MSN. Oh the wonders of the internet. Also, thank you ever so much for that song, dude, you saved my behind! Also, my dear lord, I don't want to rant (because I'll scare you) but I have this deep-seeded obsession with Scotland. Only Lucy can understand. Where abouts are you from? Anyhoo, apologies, have fun in Scotland! And, of course, another country obsession, how is Germany, Jamy? Having fun? I hope this fic is seeing you through those workdays! Also, Lucy, I have this lord-of-the-rings-esque-head-dress-circlet-arwen-galadriel-style thing that I whipped up tonight, so I'll bring it to yours. Who else is coming? And to all others, Toodles and good night!
Story word count: 1237 words.
AN word count: 284 words.
(And Yana, that means roughly 3711 words next time!)
Chapter 16 – Action Stations
Briseis was a little alarmed when she re-entered the inn to find it a hive of activity, with people running everywhere and everyone busy. Alec raised an inquisitive eyebrow when he entered behind his sister and stood quietly, with his arms lightly folded, as he waited for some sense to be made of the scene.
"Briseis!" Hector smiled when he saw her. He walked toward he, tailed closely by Aeneas and Achilles.
Briseis smiled, ever so briefly, before gasping and raising her hands to her mouth.
"By the gods!" She cried. "Hector, how are you here?"
"You've said it already. The gods made a... mistake, and I am here. Unfortunately Paris is dead."
"But he'll be back." Achilles put in.
"Before you know it." Aeneas added.
"How?" Briseis asked, barely able to speak a word. She was still confused by the situation. Fortunately Alec, having spotted his various relatives, stepped forward to greet Hector and Aeneas.
"Alec!" Hector grinned as he embraced his cousin, Alec had always been a particular favourite of his.
"Hector, I feared you dead!" Alec held him at arm's length.
"I was dead." Hector laughed at the oddity of this situation. "Moreover, I feared Lyrnessus taken and you dead!"
"Lyrnessus was taken, but not destroyed like..." He trailed off, Troy had been a home to him for much of his life.
He had studied there, learnt reading, writing, swordplay, and as much as he could of the wider world. Of course, most of these things he learnt because he never planned to put them into action. He was good at reading and writing, but he only did it when necessary, and rarely read for pleasure. He was also a master swordsman, but he hated fighting, and avoided it where he could. And though he learnt all that Troy could teach him of the world, he knew he would never leave, he loved his home too much.
"My cousin, Troy is no longer ours. Dwell not on the past, it is the future we must concern ourselves with. One of us in particular." He indicated to Aeneas, who smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"Aeneas?" Alec questioned with a smile. "You have something to do with our future? Please, tell me you are not planning an attack on those bastards, the Achaeans." He grinned, though Hector and Aeneas seemed awkward.
"Don't worry about me." Achilles said, using his new found talents to perceive their thoughts. He had been experimenting a little. "I never really allied myself with them. I am ruled by no king. I fought for my homeland and my friends."
"I should introduce you." Hector began.
"No need." Alec was glaring at the warrior before him. "Achilles, is it not? My sister's captor and my cousin's murderer." He accused.
"The same." Achilles said, tempted to smile. He saw no use in denying it and watched Alec with his head cocked observantly.
"Alec." Hector intervened quickly. "It was a fair contest, and I had killed his cousin. It was... somewhat, necessary, I suppose." Hector himself still hadn't entirely made peace with Achilles, but wished no arguments to be had on his behalf.
"And he was my captor, but only briefly. I told you this, he saved me from those other men." Briseis said, placing a hand on his arm.
Alec was still not satisfied but, for his sister's sake, he stood down.
"Hector." Briseis addressed him again, though she was still slightly nervous about talking to him. "What is it that is happening here?" The room still hummed with people's chatter and the scuffling of feet and the shuffling of maps.
"Oh, yes. I have yet to explain. The gods have decreed that we are to make a journey with the remains of the Trojan population, and rebuild what we once had." Hector paused. His dear cousin had taken in a lot in the few minutes she had been present.
"A journey?" Briseis asked. She, too, was none too fond of traveling abroad. "To where?"
"To Italy. We will be building a new town there, starting a fresh, free of the threats we, here, face."
Briseis smiled and held Alec's hand to reassure him. She would not make the journey to Italy, and they both knew it.
"Hector, my dear cousin. Have you a ship?" Alec asked.
"Not yet. Have you any ideas where to find one? We are a little pressed for resources."
"Not find one, as such. I can, however, help to finance and construct one. I will begin immediately."
"Good. And tell all that you see of our plans, bar, obviously, the Achaeans." Hector smiled.
"I'll go right away." Alec left without another word to see what he could do.
Aeneas returned to his maps to further plot the best route of travel. After one more embrace with his cousin, Hector, too, left to concentrate on preparations.
Achilles watched Briseis carefully, gauging her reactions. He still cared for the girl, still loved her, in a way. It was just that the true essence of his heart lay with another, with Paris.
Briseis noticed the distance between them, noticed the reserve that had not existed so greatly the previous evening. She moved closer, though only in a physical sense.
"Achilles." She said softly, taking his hand and looking up into his eyes. "When they depart for Italy, know that I will not be going with them. Lyrnessus is my home and I plan to stay here."
Achilles, deciding it was best not to tell her of his and Paris' new-found love, nodded and bowed his head. "I understand, but it is the gods' wish that I am to go with the travelers."
"I see. Then, a few day's hence, we part forever." Briseis felt a growing sadness.
Achilles nodded again and embraced Briseis. Very soon he felt a few soft tears seep through his clothing onto his chest. He pulled her back to wipe them from her face.
"Might we spend one last night together?" Briseis asked, craving his closeness one last time.
"No." Achilles told her, though it was a test of his self control, his body craved it so. "I think it is best that we do not." He would remain beholden to Paris.
In the Underworld Paris' consciousness wandered alone. He felt as though he was sleeping, without being entirely at rest. At last he was summoned to Hades' chamber where he hoped to find some explanation. Paris stood, feeling more physically present now, and gazed around the mighty chamber of a dark polished stone.
"Your brother looked less bewildered when he first viewed it." Hades spoke appearing from a thick dark mist.
"You..." Paris glared. "You tricked me."
"I did nothing of the sort. Besides, I was doing it as a favour for someone else." Hades sat in his high marble and silver throne.
"I demand that you return me to Achi..." Paris cut himself short, not wishing to tell anyone of that just yet.
"It's alright. I know. And you will be returned, all in good time." Hades sat back and conjured up a chair for the young man before him. Paris refused to sit. As he did, Hades contemplated the mortal's beauty. It had been true what Aphrodite had said about him. "While you are here, however, I wondered if you might," he mentally forced Paris onto the chair, "tell me a little of your world."
A/N: Gilrean! How's the chapter going. Honestly, I really want to read it! I do, I do! Oh, I can't wait! And Peanut, I am so pleased to see you are true blue Alaskan. (P.S, are any other Aussies tempted to break into song when they see the phrase 'true blue'? No? Just me.... Fair enough) And the rest of what you said in your review was far above my intellect when I read it. I'll try to make sense of it between now and next time. bradleigh, the deal will all be made clear, though some of you might not respect it. But I swear, I have all your interests in mind! Yana! I'm currently talking to you on MSN. Oh the wonders of the internet. Also, thank you ever so much for that song, dude, you saved my behind! Also, my dear lord, I don't want to rant (because I'll scare you) but I have this deep-seeded obsession with Scotland. Only Lucy can understand. Where abouts are you from? Anyhoo, apologies, have fun in Scotland! And, of course, another country obsession, how is Germany, Jamy? Having fun? I hope this fic is seeing you through those workdays! Also, Lucy, I have this lord-of-the-rings-esque-head-dress-circlet-arwen-galadriel-style thing that I whipped up tonight, so I'll bring it to yours. Who else is coming? And to all others, Toodles and good night!
Story word count: 1237 words.
AN word count: 284 words.
(And Yana, that means roughly 3711 words next time!)