"That was a bit harsh my love," Briseis heard a voice behind her. She spun around, staring into the darkness.
"Who is it?" she asked, her voice bordering on hysteria. "Who's there?"
A familiar shape moved in the shadows, and Briseis dug her fingernails into her pals. It couldn't be…
"I won't say she doesn't deserve it, but that was most definitely unkind," the voice repeated.
The sound of the amused tone the man spoke with sent shivers down her spine. She stood in silence, trying to not raise her hopes too much.
"I'm not sure Helen will be able to look you in the eye now," the gentle voice, said, and Briseis knew who it was.
"It can't be," she whispered, but in another moment the man had come out of the shadows, and with a cry of pain and pleasure she fell into his arms.
Achilles wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes, and breathing her scent in deeply.
"But…it can't be. You died!" Briseis sobbed into his chest. "I saw you."
"I died," Achilles agreed sadly.
"You're not…" Briseis fumbled for the right word.
"I'm not alive, love. I'm sorry," he said, crushing Briseis' brief if flimsy hopes.
They held each other tightly, and Achilles felt as if he could never let go, but eventually he pulled back, and resting his hands on her shoulders, studied her intently.
"Do not weep for me, my love, for I am in Elysium," he said softly.
"Then I weep that I am not with you," she replied sadly.
Achilles smiled briefly. "You will be one day. But not this day. You have so much more to do, and to give."
Briseis shook her head. "I can't do it without you."
"You got along fine before I came along," Achilles said with a grin.
Briseis punched his chest softly and he laughed.
"You gave me everything I have," she said. "You gave me life when I had none. How am I meant to live now that the man who taught me to live is gone?"
"You are strong, Briseis. Stronger than even you realise. And you will never have to endure more than you can cope with."
"But it hurts," Briseis pleaded. "It hurts so much! I just want the pain to end."
Achilles kissed her softly. "I will always be watching over you, waiting for your time to come that we may be together once again."
"We will be together?"
"Briseis, eternity is a long time, and I shall be waiting for you in the fields of Elysium." He kissed her once more. "Be strong, my love."
"No!" Briseis cried out, realising he was leaving her. "No! Don't leave me!"
He kissed her once more, in answer, and Briseis clung to him fiercely. "What if I forget you?"
"It doesn't matter, for as long as our daughter lives, I will live with you." He grinned wickedly at her. "And I'm sure I'll be able to remind you again."
Briseis gave a pathetic half sob, half laugh. Achilles wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. At the beginning it was slow and lingering, but then she ran her hands round his neck and pulled his face to hers and kissed him so fiercely that Achilles tasted blood from her lip. She sighed softly, releasing him, and then placed her cheek against his.
"I love you," she said softly after a moment.
He smiled gently and kissed her forehead. "And I will always be watching over you Briseis, I will not let you suffer any more than you can bear."
To Briseis, it seemed as if the world was growing fainter and fainter, until all that was left was a high wind, which carried Achilles' voice on it.
"I love you, Briseis. I love you," were the last words she heard before the world of swirling grey mist grew darker and darker until it disappeared entirely.
Briseis woke crying. She was wrapped in her blankets, slightly apart from the other Trojans who were grouped around the fire. She closed her eyes tightly, and could still feel Achilles' touch on her arms, his taste in her mouth. But she opened her eyes and she was alone and cold once more.