Achilles would spend as much time in his tent as he could. The days turned into weeks, which turned into months. The war had raged on for months, with Achilles refusing to fight. His sword and armor grew cold. The Trojans were victorious with defending their city. Agamemnon would never take Troy without Achilles. And Achilles did relish in that fact, going up to watch Agamemnon fail as they tried to attack Troy's walls.

Odysseus could not plead with Achilles as he already made up his mind. He would not fight. Achilles had decided to return to Greece with Briseis. The news shocked the Greek army. The mighty Achilles was leaving this dreaded war.

Briseis spent her days in Achilles' arms and her nights in his bed. She was able to love him more and more each day that passed. She was forever grateful for that. She was given the time that was stolen from her. But with that more lives were taken each day by the war. She had prolonged the war longer for her own selfish reasons. But she would not change it.

Patroculus grew tired of waiting for his cousin to come to his senses. He decided that he would enter the battle without any armor and prove himself worthy. Achilles was with Briseis inside the tent the day his cousin left for battle.

Eurodus had to come bearing the bad news. He called out to Achilles who was inside the tent. He emerged satisfied.

"Milord, I must inform you"

"What is it?" Achilles asked

"Patroculus entered battle today"

"He entered battle today without my permission? Why did you allow it?"

"I did not, he snuck out early this morning. He entered battle with the Trojans."

"Where is he? Where is he!"

"He died in battle"

"What! Who killed him?"

"Trojans"

"Then every Trojan will die by my hands until my vengeance is quenched!"

Briseis stepped outside the tent and heard his words.

"NO!" she ran to him, but he stopped her, when he reached out and grabbed her neck. He could have easily broke it, but he had to pull himself back and away. She gasped for air and struggled feebly. Achilles threw her to the ground and walked away.

Briseis was holding her neck gasping for air. It was happening again. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. She looked up at Achilles who went off on his raged filled rampage. She turned away and walked back into the tent. It would be a while before he would return.

At the funeral rites for Patroculus, Achilles was somberly quite and said nothing. He placed two coins on his eyes and took off the shell necklace he wore. He said his goodbyes to his cousin and holding the torch he lit the pyre. Briseis stood there watching him, knowing that he would kill Hector now.

But Brisies was wrong, Achilles did not single out Hector. He entered battle the next day and killed Trojans without mercy. He became a machine, systematically killing everyone on the field. Agamemnon was delighted, as Achilles wiped out a large number of soldiers in a day. Briseis wept inside the tent as she had altered things but things were still the same. Each day Achilles would return his armor covered in the blood of her country men. And she was helpless against it. And each day he would grow cold and hard and turn her away. The war raged on and on.

Until one day Achilles returned with the body of the Trojan prince. He had placed Hector's head on a stake in the middle of his camp.

"Now who will lead their army?" Achilles said as he watched the blood slide down the wooden stake.

Agamemnon was delighted at Achilles return to the battlefield. The Trojan forces were starting to dwindle in numbers. And for all the nights that Achilles had denied himself the touch and pleasure of human flesh he would claim tonight. The night that he had killed Troy's Prince. He entered the tent and saw Briseis crying as she had seen what he had done to her cousin. He had desecrated the body of her cousin. He removed his armor and splashed the cold water onto his skin.

Briseis looked away. She felt his presence and felt his shadow loom over her. He stood there naked before her, his arm reached down and pulled her up.

"I have come to claim my prize" Achilles said as he pulled her closer

"What?"

Achilles did not answer her, instead his lips were pressed upon hers, he tasted her salty tears. She could feel his arms hold her closer, touching her body as he once did before. But she couldn't allow it. She pushed him away, but he held onto her still.

"No. You cannot have me. Not ever again."

Achilles eyes grew cold. They searched hers for an answer. Why was she denying him?

"You cannot touch me with the same hands you killed my cousin with."

"Did you see it in your visions? That I would never have you again?" he asked holding her still

She lied. Even after he had killed her cousin, he still claimed her that night. She was a treacherous traitor to Troy. Instead of mourning her cousin, she was in her lover's arms. She looked away. Achilles let her go as she walked over to the bed and sat down.

"This cycle of killing never ends. You will kill more men until you die. It is who you are, what you are…"she looked up at him, "and I am helpless against it, as I always am"

"You said killing was my curse" Achilles answered her back

Briseis stood up and pulled her gown down past her shoulders, it fell to the ground effortlessly.

"And loving you is mine"