Briseis screamed as she shot up from the bed. Another nightmare had robbed her of yet another peaceful night's sleep. Her chest was heaving as she hyperventilated. This had been ongoing for nearly a week. Mostly, she dreamed of Troy and it burning to the ground. She had been gone nearly half a year when word reached Phtia of Troy's defeat. Since that day, Briseis dreamed of her beloved city burning to the ground and her cousins dying. Though there were rumors of her cousins escaping underneath the city walls, lead by Paris. In her heart, she prayed that these rumors were true and her cousins were safe and well.
She glanced over at Achilles sleeping next to her. He was undisturbed. Thankfully, he was a heavy sleeper and had not heard her scream. Quietly, she slipped off the bed and walked onto the balcony connected to their room and looked out across the ocean. The soft breeze calmed her down as it blew through her thick brown curls. She dropped her hand down to her stomach, now slightly rounded with her first child. Thetis had been right, Briseis had discovered that she was indeed with child one month after arriving in Phtia. When she discovered that she was pregnant, she was scared at first. Now, she looked forward to her child with great anticipation. Briseis stood in the breeze and thought of the day she told Achilles that they were expecting a child. She had hidden it from him for nearly two months, but he suspected something was not right.
"Briseis, you have not been yourself. When I wake in the morning, you're not beside me, you have become irritable, and you don't want me touching you. What is wrong? Please tell me, I can't bear to see you like this," Achilles pleaded with her one morning as they sat outside in the morning sun.
"It's nothing. I'm just not feeling well lately. There is nothing to be worried about," she lied unconvincingly.
"I know you better than that. There is something you're not telling me. Are you afraid to tell me?" he asked.
"Yes, I am afraid. Everything is happening to me so fast and I don't know what to do or how to react. No one ever prepared me for this growing up," she snapped.
"Prepared you for what? Please tell me and let me help you," he pleaded once again.
"Achilles, I am with child. Nearly three months now and I have never been so scared in my entire life. No one prepared me for a child. They only prepared me to be a virgin priestess of Apollo the rest of my life. I didn't want to tell you because I was unsure of how you would react," she said as she broke down and cried.
"Is that what you were so afraid of telling me? I am happy. Nothing makes me happier than you and a child would only add to that happiness. I love you and will be there for you whenever you need me," Achilles said to reassure her as he pulled her into his warm embrace.
That was nearly two months ago. Now she was five months pregnant. Briseis knew that her nightmares and lack of sleep were not good for the baby, but she could do nothing about them. Somehow, they just happened and she could not control them. After a while, she felt a warm hand slip around her waist and rest protectively over her own hand over the baby. In an instant she knew it was Achilles.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" she asked.
"No, the bed seemed cold. When I woke you were not beside me, so I looked around and saw you out here. What are you doing out here this early? It's not good for you or the baby's health," he replied.
"I was just thinking about things," she said.
"You had another nightmare, didn't you?" he asked.
"You know about those?" she asked in reply.
"Of course I know, you're my wife. I hear you crying in your sleep and have for the past week now, ever since we were informed of Troy's fate," Achilles said.
"Oh," she said, "I just am so worried about my family. I know about the rumors of them getting out under the walls, but I still worry so."
"Briseis, do you ever regret coming with me?" he asked carefully.
"No, I love my life here and I love you. Nothing could ever change my mind or my decision. I just want to know if my family is safe. Do you ever regret not continuing to fight?" she asked.
"Sometimes I miss the thrill of it, but then I look at you and feel our child kick within you, and it doesn't seem as important as my life here with you. No battle, however adventurous, is as important as you or our child," he answered.
"My lord, I do believe you have softened," Briseis said as she turned around to face her husband and kiss him.
He kissed her back. As his flat stomach touched her slightly rounded one, he felt the baby kick against his stomach. Achilles smiled and thought to himself, Strong one, no doubt about that.
Briseis laid her head against his bare chest and relaxed. For the sake of her child's health, she calmed down. Achilles took her into his arms and carried her back to their bed where she fell back asleep. He watched her sleep in amazement. Silently, he wondered to himself how his delicately small wife could be so strong. She bore the burden of not know the fate of her family, leaving them, and now carrying a child within her. In many ways she was even stronger than he was.
Something she had said stung him to the heart. She had asked him if he regretted not continuing to fight. In truth, he did miss battle. After all, that is what he was born and bred for. Being a husband and soon a father was completely opposite of anything he had ever done in his entire life. Perhaps, if he had a son, he could teach him just as he had done with Patroclus. As he thought of his future child, he shoved thoughts of battle to the back of his mind and decided never to visit that thought again.
A few days later, Briseis was sitting on the balcony watching the waves of the sea roll in and out. Her hand resting over her stomach, feeling the baby kick, she was peaceful. Her nightmares still haunted her nights, but her days were at least settling down. Since discovering that she was with child, Achilles had appointed a female servant to stay with her at all times when he could not. The servant sat nearby and watched her princess with tenderness and care.
"Is there something I can get you to make you more comfortable?" she asked.
"No, I am fine. Thank you for your kind thought though, Cecilia," Briseis replied.
Cecilia sat silently, watching over Briseis like a hawk. Thought Briseis did not like this, she knew that Cecilia was only following orders from Achilles. Though she intended to talk to him about this, she never really got around to it. Between exhaustion and other things, she found no time to really bring up the issue. In a way, she found it amusing how protective he was of her. Then again, she was grateful for the company.
"Cecilia, do you ever have the same nightmare over and over again for a period of time?" Briseis asked.
"No, my lady. I can't say that I have. Is there something bothering you?" Cecilia asked in reply.
"I just keep having this same nightmare about my family and the burning of my home. I think it may be a sign from the gods," Briseis replied.
"If I might be so bold as to say, it could just be your inner fears releasing themselves into your dreams," Cecilia said cautiously.
"Perhaps," Briseis said, "I just wish that I could know if my cousins are safe. My family means everything to me, my new one as well as my new one." Briseis rubbed her stomach and smiled.
The smile faded when she felt a sharp pain rip through her entire abdomen. It felt like a knife was being driven into her stomach and she leaned forward and gasped in pain. She cried out for Cecilia, who ran immediately to her side.
"Get Achilles NOW!" Briseis cried.
A/N: So, how are you liking this so far? To answer some people's review, I was waiting until this chapter to introduce Briseis's panic attacks and Achilles's urge for battle. Not to be rude or anything, I just wanted you to know. I've been working on this chapter for a few days, so be nice and make my day. Review!