Briseis couldn't stop smiling. Andromache noticed. The girl was pratically bouncing up and down. She got up at the nick of dawn and went to work uncomplainingly, not that she did much of that before. Her cheeks had a healthy shine to them, something that she hadn't seen for a while. Andromache was curious.
"Morning!" Briseis called out to her, startling her out of her thoughts.
"Morning," Andromache greeted back.
"Beautiful weather, isn't it?" Briseis smiled broadly, staring up at the few clouds dotting the sky. Andromache raised an eyebrow. It was a nice morning, actually, the temperature was just right, although it would get warmer as the day went on, which was why she told everyone to work hard now, so they could rest under the shade later.
Andromache watched as Briseis bent down to turn over a piece of fur they were airing out, it was from the deer that the men had brougt back only yesterday. Now she felt even more puzzled, because Briseis normally did not like to see, orstand to benear fresh game. The blood stink revolts her. She did not seem to mind all that much today. The girl straightened and imitated a fake grimace.
"Hey, Briseis, what are you grinning about?" Andromache asked suspiciously.
"Oh, I talked to Helen this morning, she told me she was feeling loads better," Briseis answered, looking in the direction of the former Spartan Queen.
"Uh huh." She was unconvinced.
"And then I stepped out of the tent and there was the sun shining brightly, and I smelled the scent of flowers, Andromache, it must be a sign from Apollo," Briseis gazed dreamily into the sky, a faint smile on her face.
Andromache shook her head, that girl was so confusing at times. But she allowed herself a smile as she remembered the old memories of herself when she was at that age. Now that was something interesting. She was almost uncontrollable, listening to no one, not even herself. Andromache watched as Briseis headed away.
"Oh and cousin?" she turned back, "I think we are almost out of water, shall I go get a pailful?"
"Are you going by yourself?"
"Yes, I shan't get lost, if that's what you are worried about, the river is only a little while away, you know this."
"Still, you should get someone to go with you, in case you got hurt climbing those hills."
"I will be all right."
"Briseis, get someone to go with you," Andromache said firmly, and Briseis knew that there was no point arguing with her any more.
Nodding, she walked away, then an idea popped into her head, she would go get Helen.
Achilles dared not to move a muscle. He stayed utterly still, crouching by a giant oak. Not ten feet away was a wild boar, digging furiously in the grass. Achilles observed silently, then when he was absolutely sure the animal was completely at ease and unaware of him, he reached slowly behind him and pulled out his bow. He waited some more. No sense in rushing and scaring away his lunch. The boar did not noticed him at all. He picked an arrow, pulled back the catgut tightly, aimed, and let it fly.
The animal didn't even have the time to squeal, in two seconds flat it fell to the ground. It was dead for one of those seconds. Achilles stood up, stretched his legs and walked leisurely to his prey. He picked up the boar and checked its heartbeat, there was none. No surprise, as it hadbeen shot straight through the throat, bleeding was minimal, the wound precise. Achilles took out his knife and freed his arrow. Then he slung the animal over his shoulder and started back to his camp.
It was a good distance away from the Trojan settlement, simply because he could not risk discovery. It just wouldn't do for any of the men to notice wisps of smoke emerging from the forest. And even thought this madeit more difficult to keep an eye on Briseis, it was safer, and he would not compromise that.
Having reached his little camp, Achilles set down the boar, and started to gather firewood. When he came back with a small bundle of dried twigs, he took a stick and stirred the ashes of the fire he built the night before. Among the soot was a spark, glowing red in its nest of blackness. Achilles covered it with crackly leaves. Very soon, smoke was spiraling up into the air and the fire was growing. He stared at the dancing flames, his thoughts elsewhere.
What was he to do? He couldn't very well march right into the Trojan camp. They would surely kill him. And he was tired of fighting. But Briseis deserved more than this crude game of hide and seek. Perhaps he could somehow establish peace with Andromache? He sensed that she was where most of tension came from. He still regretted, very deeply, that he had killed such a brave and honorable man. Hector. He had shed tears when old king Priam came to claim his son's body. True, Priam wasn't the wisest king, but he did love his country and felt deeply for his countrymen, which was more than he could say for the bastard Agamemnon. May the man burn in hell.
He turned his attention back to his catch and began to gut the animal with a vengeance, his teeth gritted at the thought of the king who drowned in his own greed.
Helen looked up as Briseis approached. She too, had noticed the contagious cheerfulness in the girl's steps. She smiled up at her.
"Helen!"
"What are you up to, Briseis?"
"Oh, the usual, Andromache has us working like servants. But I suppose we are all servants to the gods," Briseis paused, "How about a walk?"
Helen looked at her questioningly.
"Oh come on! I was going to get water, but Andromache wouldn't let me go unless I have an escort. Would you kindly go with me? I could use someone to talk to." Briseis looked at her hopefully.
"All right, I should probably get up and move a little anyway."
Briseis smiled brightly, and Helen couldn't help but return the smile.
The two woman walked side by side into the forest.
A/N: All right, admittedly nothing much happens in this chapter, but I've got to rethink the plot since I went off the original plan. But I'm sure I will have an idea soon. In the mean time, I thank all the people who have reviewed this story. Here is a deep bow...Thanks!