8 - A slip of the tongue
Leaning closer Achilles examined the thrashing figure before him. She was small, with little stature but unusual muscles lining her limbs, her eyes, he remembered quite clearly, were an the colour of the ocean when it grew clear but cold, her hair was a dark brown with small flashes of red to it, it hung to her shoulder blades wavy and rebellious. Her prominently boned face was now twisted in a expression of fear, the sort of panicked kind you saw on animals just before they were killed. Something was lying heavy on her for this kind of disturbment. Achilles was now listening carefully, trying to make sense out of the mumbled words and moaning fear that were pouring forth from Niera. With another small yell Niera's legs shot out catching Achilles in the groin and sending him rolling on the ground, letting out a few gasps himself, after a few moments of extreme pain, on Achilles part, he righted himself and limping slightly, making sure to stay clear of the still kicking legs, leaned over Niera grasping her shoulders firmly, "Calm, calm... It's gone." He repeated softly careful not to wake her up but at the same time still her dark dreams. Continuing his words softly as he might have done with a fidgety mare he watched as Niera's wild movements slowed until they stopped altogether. With a sigh, and still wishing he hadn't been so quick to unbind her feet, he moved to return to his pallet but something stopped him. What was it that bothered the girl? What could possibly trouble a mere girl so much that she would have those kind of reactions? Curious despite himself Achilles once again knelt, gingerly, beside the breathing body. After a moment's consideration he asked quietly, his voice low, "What troubles you?" There were several long moments of silence in which Achilles almost turned away to move back to his furs but stopped just as Niera's lips moved, her voice sounding fervent and wild. "What if he was wrong! What if it was merely a story... But the names. No... He is here, all of them must be." There was another pause with a shuddering gasp from Niera before she continued, Achilles face growing more intense as her words progressed.
"Home... Dreams... If I could just go back, it's all a dream." Yet again Niera stopped and this time was silent for a good amount of time, the quiet only broken by her renewed thrashing and troubled noises. Once again Achilles made as if to ask her again when she picked up where she had left off but now he could make nothing out of her dialogue except for single words, strung together here and there amid her desperate rambling. "Trojan War. Burning... It all burns, but no.. That's wrong, He's wrong..." Achilles by now was just keeping himself from waking the girl and getting whatever story there was to be had out of her without further trouble. But something held him back, a more patient side of him that bid him to wait and listen, then... To his disturbed astonishment Niera started listing names, frantically, as if her life depended on it. "Achilles, Patroclus, Nestor, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Ajax, Diomedes, Menelaus, Paris, Hector, Priam... Helen.. Greeks.. It was so long ago, why now. But they were supposed to win." As the names progressed Achilles face settled into a look of calculating wonder, that this girl should know the main leaders of the Greek armies let alone the Trojans, but as the last few word slipped from Niera's mouth Achilles moved forward his hard hands grasping the girl's shoulders with an iron grip and pulled her upright and into the air, bringing Niera awake with a wild shout. "No! It wasn't me you bloody..." The words ended abruptly as Niera's eyes snapped into focus and took in everything. Trying not to be overcome with fear at her position, the hard-faced expression of the man gripping her fiercely, she swallowed trying to figure out what was happening. Without one word Achilles picked her up, thrusting her over his shoulder while Niera, still unsure of what was going on, managed to get a kick in Achilles stomach before a hand held her feet still. Resisting the urge, once more, to start shouting obscenities Niera growled. "What? Off to the executioners block already?" There was an unnerving silence in return to her sarcasm and as Niera found the wits to pay attention around her she realised they were still upon the Trojan beaches, and were now heading down a long row of sandy dunes where below, further down the coastline, lay a thousand lights twinkling in the night darkness.
They were campfires Niera realised, and the number of them astonished her. Greece had emptied it's land to be at war. Coming back to her situation with another struggling kick she noted with sudden interest that Achilles was limping, he hadn't before, that she had noticed, she didn't have much more time to ponder on the matter for just then they entered the first out-laying tents where bodies of soldiers were sprawled out on the sands, the sound of snoring piercing through the muttering laughter and talk of the men. At the first few looks from the men gathered there Niera felt her stomach shrinking, she held their eyes just as much as Achilles did and for a different reason, obviously. With the first few calls from the soldiers that were now gathering about Niera's rage, that had been sleeping with her surprise at Achilles unexpected actions, sprang into full life. Kicking viciously, and managing to free her legs from Achilles impending grasp, she swung her bound fists pounding hard on the warrior's back. Her legs beating a wild tattoo on the front of him, thrashing and moving her whole body with fierce energy she was gratified to find that Achilles nearly dropped her, but unfortunately 'nearly' was not 'did' and with no other tool left to her besides her tongue she shouted at the now jeering calls, "Talk all you want you rotten faggots! Sick bastards whose mother's deserted you when they first saw your ugly faces!" If Niera could have seen the half-forming smile that was growing on Achilles face at her remarks she would have been even more enraged, as it was her present anger was enough. Still laughing the men backed off though they still watched and growing talk could be heard as Niera caught the words, "..Towards the leader's tents..." Brilliant! Groaned Niera inwardly, her whole body shaking with exhaustion, rage, fear, and hunger. And what in the blazes is up with this... Niera was mentally referring to Achilles drastic behavior of which there still had been no explanation for. All Niera could do was wait and apprehend what lay ahead of her at this walk's end.
::::: And Achilles has won the vote! Yes, you did really know all along he would, I mean... We're all thinking of the movie's Brad Pitt even though I'm trying to lean Achilles personality towards the Iliad more. The movie really has wrecked any mental image I used to get of him (Achilles) now all I see is Brad Pitt's face for Achilles. (shakes head sadly) Bad! bad Brad Pitt! So yes, since you've decided the treacherous path of romance for Niera, we'll see how it turns out, hopefully interesting. And don't laugh if my romance discussions/scenes are horridly stupid. I've never done them before. Thank you reviewers! Your brilliant to have around. I look forward so much to reading the reviews, I think that's even more fun that writing the actual story!:::