A/N: I'm going to see Wicked; I'm so excited (Wicked is this play in Toronto that's coming back next October and I'm going to see it with one of my friends). I cannot wait, back to the topic why you read this the chapter also has some bastard-y parts on Achilles part but I assure you that he'll be nicer in the future.

Chapter 13 – The Taming of Briseis

Her eyes were shut and her legs were trembling. He could tell she felt like screaming back into his face 'No' and never having to make this decision, just to embrace her brother and keep him safe forever but she must know that was not an option. After a moment she nodded. "Agreed, your terms will be met."

Patroclus knew his cousin hated doing this to her, hated having to make her choose between her brother's safeties and pleasuring a man she detested for the next...who knew how long.

"They have held a funeral for me no doubt." She said quietly to her brother, he nodded.

"They did not have your body but most all of Troy came to see the pyre burn, Melanon and Pramadas and Hector lit it and Andromanche and Helen were crying and Priam looked close to tears as well. And Cariaxis ran out during the middle of it, he couldn't take it." She nodded numbly, and reached behind her head.

"Give this to Hector; make it the first thing you do as soon as you arrive at the gates." She placed a long silver necklace in the palm of Cartanye's hand. "Make it the last thing I ever require of you. Tell everyone," Her voice caught in her throat. "Tell them goodbye." She was fighting back tears it was evident.

"If your brother is to make it back to Troy but daybreak he should leave now, I will have Eudorus take him until he is in range of the Trojan archers then your brother will have to run the remainder of the distance." Achilles words sounded cruel but prolonging their leaving would only make the hurt deeper. "Come." He raised the child up by the shoulder and steered him out of the room.

"No Briseis." The boy screamed. "Briseis!" Achilles easily dragged the whimpering child out of the tent. Patroclus felt misery in his heart even though he did not know this infant.

"Losing your family is always hard Briseis." He said kindly hoping it would calm her down.

She turned her normally glorious head towards him, "Cartanye wasn't just my brother, he was my son." He gasp involuntarily, Achilles was not going to like this. She glanced at him and buried her head in her hands. "He wasn't really my son; it's just that...my parents weren't there to care for him so I've raised him. For ten years he and his brothers have always had me to solve their problems but now, I've disappointed them."

"Briseis I find it hard to believe that you were a disappointment to anyone, particularly those who knew you so well as your family did." She laughed humorlessly.

"You never knew my father; he always had us seeking his approval for everything, my brothers were envious of me because I had learned so much from him." She clutched her knees to her chest. "Even now they are always competing to be better than the others, except now it's for my approval. Dealing with so many men at one time lets you appreciate the small pleasures in this world." The look in her eyes made him sure she wanted to be alone with her memories.

He began to back away from her and out the door. "Perhaps I should leave you alone now, and Briseis," She met his gaze at the mention of her name. "Achilles will be back soon, I expect you know what he will want." She seemed sobered by the remark and straightened herself.

"Of course." She smiled weakly at him. "Sleep well, Patroclus." He bid her the same but he was sure that as soon as he exited the tent he heard the unfamiliar sound of her quiet sobs.

The scene that met his eyes as he entered the tent more than pleased Achilles. She sat on his bed with her legs tucked under her, completely unclothed but still maintaining an air of regality. The body he had admired in the moonlight before would be underneath him, his name would be branded into her mind from this night forth.

Her long, dark, exotic hair was swept over one shoulder, half-covering her breasts. Briseis who had once forsaken him would, tonight, be his. He was excited by the notion, no doubt, but another thought entered his mind. Her memories of her brother would be still affecting her. Loss of innocence was painful enough for women; it did not need to be intensified by agonizing recollections. He wanted to be the onlyone in her thoughts tonight.

He quickly stripped of his clothes and sat behind her, his one arm over her flat stomach the other draped over her collarbone. Achilles breathed in her luscious scent, traces of perfume still lingered over her figure. Her hair had the faint aroma of orchid flowers; bath oils he assumed but they were befitting to her all the same. 'Beautiful but too easily crushed' he thought as his lips moved skillfully over her neck. With a movement of his hand he brought her faintly tanned fingers to rest on her stomach, lightly covering his.

It was hard to progress slowly around her but he knew that even women as strong as Briseis would be undoubtedly frightened if he moved at his usual pace. And unfortunate but true fact. His hands brushed lightly against her chest and she gasped softly, surely not used to being touched in such a way.

As the night continued as did her torture, by daybreak she was, undeniably, his woman. She did not yet curve to his touch but she would, all he needed was time and she would be his for as long as need be. Hector may have been the Tamer of Horses but he had never been able to make docile of Briseis. Achilles was pleased when he saw that he had succeeded where the prince had failed.

She lay awake beside him; he rolled atop her once more and brought his face dangerously close to hers. "That wasn't all bad was it?" He smirked at her arrogantly, he couldn't help it; she had been finally defeated, wore down until he could mold her completely to his liking.

"What if I told you it was?" Her voice was smooth; like that she had first spoken to him in with more than a hint of polite coolness.

Achilles ignored the obvious chill in her tone. He brushed a strand of ebony hair out of her face; delighting in every moment his fingers came in contact with her flesh. "Then I know you were lying, I've bedded thousands of virgin girls before and I have to mention that you were by far the least anguished."

She batted her eyelashes at him. "Thank you, what can I say its gift." He laughed throatily and brought his lips to hers. She pushed him away from her lightly. "Is three times not enough My Lord?" He laughed again as she addressed him.

"Don't call me that, it doesn't suit you Briseis." He kissed her again. "And if I ever tire of your body you'll be the first to know." His hands rid her figure of the troublesome linen that covered it. They traveled over her breasts and stomach, lower and excruciatingly lower.

"If not that what should I call you?" Her eyes held only a shard of cold; replaced by the liveliness she had displayed the night before.

"Whatever you wish." He said quietly and rose from the bed, leaving her lying peacefully on her back without a doubt thinking of him. He was sure to leave the tent quietly as to not disturb Briseis from her thoughts. "And she thought she could best me. Women are much too easy to control." He said with a dark laugh.

As he left she smiled wryly. "Easily controlled? We'll see, love doesn't happen overnight especially with me."

Paris sat in the courtroom, scrutinized by every man there. No matter how much they said they detested Briseis, Hector knew that they were miserable with her gone. "You know I never meant for her to leave. You all know that." Even the faces of the women in the court were hateful.

"You've always loathed Lady Briseis, you wanted her to be captured." A voice came from the nobles many other spiteful remarks came from the upperclassmen and he tried to suppress a wince for each one.

Hector stood and the hall went quiet. "That's enough, Paris is sorry for his actions I'm sure he does not need your distain to add onto his own."

"He sent away one of the martyrs of Troy. The one who gave hope to thousands."

He walked towards the pool, his emotion betraying more than intended. "And how many of you have affronted her? How many, over the years, have spoken behind her back? Started rumors? Wished to strike her? Even once?" No man rose form their seat, not even raised their hand at this comment. "Be truthful, you are in the eyes of the Gods." Still no response. "I have, many times I have wished to lash out at her and I am her closest friend." Then two unexpected figures rose, Melanon and Pramadas looked unashamed as they stood. "Even her own brothers have acted unjustly towards her, yet they can admit their offense and none of you can." A man ascended and soon so did another until the entire court body was raised. "Paris is no different than all of you. Briseis has revealed the temper of even the most tranquil man here. It is simply my brother's luck that her would shout at her and she would leave during the middle of a war. Were it you who had made her leave would you think you deserved this kind of scrutiny? Never pass judgment on others unless you wish to have it passed on you."

Priam sent the court away and glanced at his eldest son, the old king looked ancient. This war was a strain on Hector's father and everyman in Troy knew it. "You didn't have to do that. I can take care of myself you know." Paris' voice was bitter as he confronted his brother.

"If you could then how is it you let loose your anger and made her leave?" His voice was unintentionally cold. "I am sorry brother, it was not your fault. No one can have completely equanimities around Briseis but you must learn to curb your anger. She is out of our reach now; all we can do is pray."

It was a terrifying thought to be sure but even so it was true. Briseis had always been available, within grasp if ever needed. Andromanche and Helen had done their share of weeping but strangely Cassandra, one of the first to meet the witty nobleman's daughter went on unaffected. Her brothers had put up a strong resolve, Pramadas mostly. Hector could never imagine what it would be like to lose a twin since he never had one.

Even more terrorizing Cartanye had disappeared only a few nights ago. His older brothers had been shaken when they heard the news; Hentayol had cried the night and clung to Melanon as a child clung to his parent. They could not search for the boy because of the battle and this was torturing Hector, he kept asking himself what would Briseis do? Would she scour the city looking for a ten-year-old boy or continue wishing him good fortune wherever he may be?

"Lord's Hector and Paris." A soldier called from the entrance to the hall. "The boy, Cartanye has returned to Troy. He is in the main hall he said he wished to speak to you." Hector did not answer the man but pushed past him and ran towards the main hall.

Briseis' brothers were already there, surrounding the young boy, worry mixed with anger on each of their faces. "Prince Hector he requested-" A servant said loudly but he pressed beyond him as well.

He bent over the child; Cartanye's face was cut in numerous places but his eyes still shone at the prince. "Briseis- He coughed roughly. "Briseis said to give you this." His voice was hoarse from lack of food and water but he still had strength enough to take the silver jewelry out from his pouch. The breath caught in Hector's throat. It was the necklace, Briseis' necklace. "She wanted to say goodbye one last time." His voice faded and he passed into sleep.

"There was an inscription on that necklace. What did it say?" Achilles was lying next to her; Briseis was arched beside him lying seductively on his body. He had been wondering why it had not caught his attention sooner. Her eyes fluttered open and she tilted her head innocently. "There were words on the necklace you gave to your brother, what did they say?"

She sighed and repositioned herself on his body. "You wouldn't understand them even if I told you. It's a secret that I've never told anyone and I don't intend to now." Her expression went oddly cold as she stared at him.

"I thought we had an accord that said you must never deny me anything." He said softly, "That does not only apply to the desires of my body."

"You want to know, it says 'Briseis, forever honor'." He raised his eyebrows. "I told you, you would not understand them even if I told them to you."

"Then tell me what they mean." His voice held more of an order than a query. She hesitated in her answer and he leaned closer to her. "I would hate to kill you Briseis." She wavered still and he turned to face her, overtopping her naked form. "Tell me, now."

"Briseis is obviously my name." Her voice held no fear or panic as was expected. "Forever is because Hector presented this to me after our wedding date was set, signifying that we would be together forever. Honor was the first word I ever said to him."

'It was a wedding gift from the prince of Troy?' He thought to himself. 'This makes things much more complicated, particularly because she still wears it. Well wore it.'

"We you ever in love with the prince?" He asked shamelessly, she was still pinned beneath him unable to take his gaze from those, now flaming, blue eyes.

"What kind of question is that?" She asked similarly brazen. "I love Hector the way I would love a brother. There was a point where we both thought we loved each other but it wasn't love. That's why I let him marry Andromanche." He groaned inwardly, more secrets he did not know about her.

Briseis' supple body was beautiful against the furs they had made love on, now he had the urge to repeat those actions. She must have seen it in his eyes because she pulled the cover to shield herself. He laughed throatily, lust dominating his entirety. "Was that really necessary? You act as though I have not seen every part of you already." She did not lower the sheets as he thought she might, she did not submit as was expected. "We do not have to make love if you are so strongly opposed." He sighed, and lay back onto the bed.

It was predictable that he was surprised when moments later Briseis appeared above him, her long scented hair fell beside his face and her blue eyes scintillating with want. "I thought you did not wish to have me take you." He said after pulling her into a fervent kiss.

She smiled coyly and met his eyes. "Is it not a woman's prerogative to desire what she does not have?" He grinned back at her. "Well a woman's prerogative has nothing to do with it." She removed herself from his embrace and lay, facing away from him and so she remained for the remnants of the night.

All the while one thought crossed Achilles' mind, were her felling for him real. If so, what kind of barricade was she trying to put between them? Did she really fear his love so much that she would stop at nothing to repel it? If not, why tease him so? It was time to speak with Patroclus, his last resort at unraveling her emotion.

A/N: Remember to review and all. I've posted all three of these chapters (11-13) at once to make up for the not updating in the next week; I hope no one is too mad at me. Moving on I know the title is 'The Taming of Briseis' and it contained minimal taming, it will all explain itself in the recesses of time.