The Following Chapter is written by AlibethBooks:
16 - Diana
Niera's body shook, with anger more than anything else. Her grey eyes were steel. Kneeling on the sand, her clothes damp and clinging, her hair wet and straggled, she looked a picture of despair. Achilles stood back several paces, watching the small group of Trojans ride off into the distance. Odysseus stood with him, as well as the others of their company. Niera had caught their attention drastically by her furious yell. It had been a yell of frustration, of hate and anger. Diana... Why didn't it surprise her. Out of anyone it had to be her. She was so stupid! So mindlessly blind. No, that wasn't being fair. Niera shook her head quickly. Diana had lost much, almost as much as she herself had. But in different ways and she had much to suspect. Niera felt like dying. They were kin still, even if they did have hate for each other. How could she!
"I'll get her!" Niera whispered. "If its the last thing I do, I'll get her for this." She stiffened automatically as a hand was placed on her shoulder. Looking up she found it was Achilles, his hard face regarding her silently. Niera ignored him, she wanted to be left alone. She felt like drowning in her grief. Refusing to listen to Achilles motion for her to get up, Niera kept her crumpled up position on the beach, her gaze following her hated cousin. Diana. The name left a bad taste in her mouth. Niera was still unusually unresponsive as Achilles, with a glance to Odysseus, lifted her, setting her prone figure atop his horse and jumping up after her. Despite himself Achilles felt a odd twinge of concern and deep interest. The two females had known each other, that was indeed certain. Their manner, the very way they had looked at each other confirmed that. Wondering quietly at from what land the two had met before, Achilles glanced down at Niera, slumped wearily against him, her eyes glazed over with hate, and something else. Sorrow? The thought struck Achilles as odd, sorrow did not seem to fit this girl. Anger, Bitterness, Bluntness, yes, but sorrow?
"I'll get her." Achilles head quickly jerked downwards, the words had sounded with such a force of intensity that even he was caught by them. "Why?" He asked softly, knowing full well of whom she was speaking of. Niera responded, not even knowing she did, "For this. Even she..." Niera's words ended abruptly, his eyes suddenly regaining their conscious look. They examined Achilles narrowly, as if blaming him for even having her answer. "That is between me and her." She finished quietly, straightening herself to support her own weight. Niera always recovered from things fast, she was never one to stay in a down position for long, her mind was too active and sharp for that. Already she was recuperating from her shock at seeing Diana, from her emotion at her cousins' denial of her. Her jaw not set in a grim line Niera suddenly realised she was atop Achilles' horse, him seated behind her. Scowling, she hadn't wanted to share the horse, Niera wondered what would happen if she tried to push the man off. As if reading her mind Achilles leaned forward slightly, his body brushing up against hers, his arms gripping the horse's lead firmly.
A lithe laugh issued from Odysseus who was riding next to them, atop a bay mare. "By the gods Achilles, what have you brought on yourself. Two god-marked? The trojan was no ordinary woman of birth, neither is this one." His weathered face grinning he glanced over at Niera who frowned decisively at him. "Nah, don't look so small one." He said with another deep chuckle. Niera felt like pushing the man's face in, this time for once not Achilles' face. Achilles smiled slowly, more at Niera's reaction to Odysseus than anything else. By the time they had reached his camp the smile had fled and with it Odysseus who had gone to his own lodgings. Niera personally would have liked to credit his disappearance to her frown. As Achilles' slid of the mare's back he lifted a hand to Niera who, disdaining the hand scornfully, jumped off herself landing painfully on her foot. She glanced quickly at Achilles, almost suspicious of him laughing at her. His set face was all she saw and finally satisfied that he dignity was not being imposed upon she reluctantly followed Achilles back into the tent that she was quite familiar with by now. Niera was settling herself on the cot of skins that was now hers when Achilles soft voice surprised her.
"Who was she?" He asked, knowing her answer. As he had suspected Niera, after staring hard at him for a moment shook her head stubbornly, refusing to speak. Achilles sighed inwardly, one way or another he would have to get what he could from the girl. Time was telling and he needed his information.