Chapter 3- All's Fair in Love and War
Tessa had been taken away from the only home she knew and the fact that both of these men were warriors terrified her. Her parents had been killed when her tiny village was burned down to the ground. Warriors had either slain everyone in her village or they took them as their own personal slaves. She had escaped thankfully by the help of Kenya, the blonde woman who refused to let her go with Achilles and Patroclus. When Lea threatened to turn both of them in to the men who had destroyed Tessa village, Kenya gave her up sorrowfully.
As they rode through dry land, Tessa who sat behind Patroclus on his horse, wondered what lied in store for her. She thought of him to be a hateful man; all warriors in her opinion were full of hatred. He was strong and brawny; she could feel his tight muscles when his armor rode up, riding on top the bumpy sand. She knew that she had to obey the two men, but she definitely wasn't going to let them step all over her.
"And what exactly am I supposed to do with her?" Patroclus asked Achilles as they pitched two tents.
It had grown dark before they reached home, so Achilles decided to set up camp. There was a small pond only a few yards away which held plenty of fish for them to eat for dinner. Tessa stared aimlessly into the pond as the tiny fish swam about.
"Make friendly. Talk to her, bond, do something," Achilles advised.
"How old did you say she was?"
"I didn't. That's something you could talk about," Achilles smiled.
Patroclus gave his cousin an impatient glance as he built a small fire.
"She's fifteen. Isn't she the same age as Galasia?"
"No, Galasia is seventeen," Patroclus said, poking at the fire he had just started.
"It's all the same really. You are only eighteen, she might find you young. Listen with all of that aside, I want you to go over there and befriend her. I know she's quiet but we have to make this look plausible," Achilles reminded him.
Patroclus stood up from the tiny flames and walked over to Tessa who was still staring into the pond.
"Want to help me catch one?" Patroclus asked watching her stare at the fish swimming around in circles.
Tessa stood unmoved by his words. A gust of wind rolled past her face, blowing her long brown hair wildly, but she remained motionless. Patroclus turned his attention to the fish. He squat down, reached his hand into the pond, and tried to pull a fish out. Tessa soon joined him after many failed attempts. As soon as she stuck her hand in, the biggest fish in the pond was caught in her hands.
Patroclus stared at her as the fish became still in her lap, "How did you do that?" he asked embarrassingly.
Tessa looked up at him and handed him the fish. She remained expressionless as he helped her up from the ground.
"That's a big one, big enough for all of us to share. Good job Patroclus," Achilles said, reaching his hand out for the large fish.
"Actually, Tessa caught it."
Achilles and Patroclus looked at Tessa, but she had made her way back to the pond.
"Peculiar," Patroclus said watching the young girl sit near the pond.
After Achilles was done cooking the large fish, he called Patroclus and Tessa for dinner. Tessa remained seated by the pond, ignoring Achilles' call.
"She doesn't wish to eat?" Achilles asked Patroclus as he took a seat.
"Well she can starve for all I care."
"Nonsense. She is just frightened by us. If you weren't so rough with her…" Achilles smirked.
"Me? I was rough with her?"
Achilles wiped his mouth, "When we arrived, you threw her over your shoulder and sat her down on the ground like she was some dead wild boar," he chuckled.
"I didn't mean to," Patroclus said indifferently.
"It's late, you should put her to bed," Achilles said, finishing up his portion of the fish.
"She can sleep with you, in your tent," Patroclus grunted as he walked to his tent.
"No, she will sleep in yours. No discussion. See you in the morning."
Achilles put out the fire and then he went off to his tent. Patroclus watched as the young girl dipped her hands in and out of the pond.
"It's late," Patroclus told her, "Come with me."
She looked up into his dark green eyes. He was angry, no he was upset. She could tell he was upset by something, but she didn't care because she was upset also. Patroclus looked down at her cold grey eyes which were normally pale, but considering the time of day, they sparkled in the moon light. She followed him into his tent and sat in the far left corner.
"Get some rest," he commanded, passing her a warm blanket as he settled himself down to rest.
She took the blanket hesitantly, "I'd rather sleep outside with the wild creatures of the night."
Patroclus turned over and saw her hug the blanket tightly. This was the first word she spoke to him and he was a little annoyed with her by this point.
"Then go, I will not stop you," he said, turning back over.
He had given her very little eye contact since she came with them which upset her because she felt he looked down on her. She knew she was a strong minded young woman, and she wouldn't take his surly attitude anymore.
Achilles heard quick footsteps outside his tent. He sprang up, grabbed his sword, and ran after the individual. As soon as he caught up with them, they fell on the ground and moaned in pain.
"Tessa?" Achilles asked as she grabbed her ankle in pain.
He noticed she must have twisted her ankle by the way she was limping back to the camp site, so he picked her up and brought her back into Patroclus' tent.
"Lose something?" Achilles asked Patroclus callously.
Patroclus looked up at the girl in Achilles' arms, "She wanted to go sleep out there with the beasts, so I let her."
"No jokes cousin, you are to watch her. Guard her with your life, are we understood?" Achilles said, laying Tessa next to him.
After Achilles left the tent, Patroclus was left staring into her eyes. They were a blink away from being on top of each other so Tessa limped over to the corner and settled herself under the blanket.
"Why are you limping?" he asked.
"Why do you care?" she sniffled, rubbing her ankle in pain.
Patroclus turned away from her, annoyed by her distant behavior he tried to go back to sleep. As he adjusted his covers, she noticed he had removed all of his armor. Now she became even more frightened, fearful that he might do something to her when she fell asleep. The covers came up to the edge of his muscular back which glistened in the gloomy tent. His long strong body took up most of the room and she knew if she were to lie down, he'd end up on top of her. She wrapped the covers around herself and tried to sleep sitting up.
When morning came, Achilles peaked inside of Patroclus' tent. He found Tessa sitting in the corner awake while Patroclus slept comfortably on his stomach.
He motioned for her to come over to him, "How did you sleep?"
"I didn't," Tessa mumbled, blinking wildly trying to stay awake.
"Here, you may sleep in my tent, and I will wake you when we get ready to leave," Achilles said carrying her into the empty tent.
When Achilles was catching breakfast in the pond, Patroclus walked up behind him.
"Where is she?" Patroclus asked sleepily.
"In my tent, resting."
"Well if you wanted her, I told you to let her sleep in your tent last night," he grinned.
"She was up all night. You took off all of your armor?" Achilles asked angrily.
"I thought she was going to stay out here. If I would have known…"
"You must not scare her again! How would feel to have a naked man sleep near you? She is alone, with no one she knows. We must make her comfortable until we return her."
"I apologize, it will not happen again."
"Good. Last night I thought about it, and I'm pretty sure Galasia must have seen you and Tessa through the pond," Achilles pointed.
"What? How?"
"She's the goddess of water, she can see everything through it."
"And?"
"And, she probably already knows that you are with Tessa. Now all we have to do is convince her that you two are serious about each other."
"And how am I supposed to do this?" Patroclus sighed.
"When we get back, you are going to take Tessa to the water fall that you always see Galasia in."
"And? I can tell that's not all you have in store for me."
"Seduce her," Achilles said dropping his head down.
After he caught two fish, he dropped them by the unlit fire and un-pitched Patroclus' tent.
"You want me to do what to her?" Patroclus yelled running behind Achilles.
"Keep your voice down. Look, you must, otherwise, the deal is off."
Patroclus helped Achilles pack the tent materials onto the horses. He tried to argue more with Achilles, but a deal was a deal and if he didn't do it, Patroclus would lose his life. A while later Tessa woke up and sat down by the unlit fire.
"Do you feel better?" Achilles asked her.
She nodded and handed him the blanket that was wrapped tightly around her. Patroclus packed up Achilles' tent and then they were ready to go.
"May I ride with you?" Tessa asked looking up at Achilles on his horse.
Patroclus nodded gladly while Achilles helped her up on the tall horse. While they rode miles and miles, Tessa could feel Patroclus' stares on the back of her neck. Occasionally she would turn around and he'd look her dead in the face. The look was bitter, lifeless, and numb. He thought nothing of her but the feeling was mutual. Before they knew it, they had arrived at Patroclus' home. The tall white stone building stood high atop a small cliff that overlooked the sea.
"Patroclus, oh my dear Patroclus!" his mother screamed, running toward him.
"Mother, what happened?"
Tears ran down her pale face feverishly as she ran up to him. He jumped off of his horse and tried to calm her down but her angry movements overwhelmed him.
"Your father, he, he," she stuttered, chocking on her distressed cries.
"Aunt, what is it?" Achilles asked concerned, joining them on the ground.
Patroclus' mother whispered something into his ear, and they both fell to the ground. Achilles left Tessa on his horse while he picked both Patroclus and his mother up.
"Patroclus?" Achilles asked as his cousin held his trembling mother.
"My father. He is dead," Patroclus huffed out in disbelief.
While is mother wept in his arms, Patroclus stood unmoving. His expression became dull and stiff, he hadn't even shed a tear. All he felt was loneliness, bitterness, and emptiness.
Patroclus' mother explained to him of how she went down to the shore front, to meet with Thetis, Achilles' mother. After walking for a while, they noticed a man's body float up on the shore. When they rushed to the man's aid, Thetis held Patroclus' mother back once they realized it was Menoetius.
When his mother brought all of them into the house, she started to clean obsessively. Achilles tried to talk to Patroclus, but he wouldn't say a word. Tessa helped his mother clean, and when Tessa tried to make friendly conversation she too detached herself the way her son had done.
"Poseidon," Achilles said slamming his fist down on the kitchen table.
Patroclus remained still as Achilles went into a tirade.
"Goddesses, even non-goddesses, women are all trouble. Galasia must have gone to Poseidon about you. I thought she was only a jealous wench who would seek to make you envy her, but no, she is a villain and a murderer." Achilles ranted.
"Stop," Patroclus shouted, "Enough! She would never commit such a vicious crime."
"Open your eyes, for once cousin. Can't you see, this is all her bidding?" Achilles yelled.
"I will not have you talk about her with such wicked words! So help me, by the power of the gods, I will kill you with my bare hands if so much as one breath escapes your body," Patroclus yelled back as he stood in Achilles face.
Achilles backed away from his cousin as he left the kitchen. He dared not go after him after an outburst like the one that had just erupted. Patroclus walked angrily past his mother and Tessa as they scrubbed the dinning hall floor. Tessa looked up at him before he disappeared into his room. They exchanged a silent but conscience glance which both of them felt deep down in their souls. She knew exactly how it felt to lose a parent, and with everything aside, she shared his pain.
"Ares! Ares!" Achilles shouted impatiently, out in his aunt's courtyard.
A flash of lighting sparked before him, "Ah Achilles, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Ares smirked.
Achilles grabbed the god of war by the throat and squeezed as tightly as he could, "Why? Why Menoetius?"
Ares laughed as he choked, "You think it was my idea, no, you give me too much credit. Posideon was planning this for some time now."
Achilles released Ares neck and said, "No one was spossed to be harmed."
Ares laughed again, "No one invloving the deal was harmed, so what's the problem?"
"The problem is my uncle is dead. My cousin will not go through with the deal if he is in mourning over his father," Achilles yelled feriously.
"I'll see what I can do," Ares nodded and then he disappered into a ray of light.
A few moments later he returned, "Menoetius' soul has already made its way to Hades, nothing I can do about it now."
Achilles paced back and forth trying to think up a plan.
"You know, my sister might want to do us a favor," Ares said slyly.
"Which one?" Achilles asked, suspious by Ares' tone.
"None other than the goddess of love. She'll get Patroclus to fall in love with the girl you've found, Galasia will become jealous and run to me, I will win her over, and then Aprhodite can reverse the spell."
"No, this is some kind of trap. Aphrodite won't do this for free."
"She will if you …" Ares began to say until a cloud of pink smoke appeared in front him.
"Achilles, the great warlord of earth," Aphrodite smiled, "I can speak for myself can't I brother?"
Ares allowed her to direct the conversation.
The beautiful goddess strolled up to Achilles, "Be with me, and your cousin will fall in love with Tessa," she whispered into his ear.
Achilles back away, "I appericate you subtleness, but my answer is no."
"Very well then. I look forward to seeing you again," she smiled sweetly and then she disappered in her pink cloud.
"Well that wasn't a intelligent move on your part," Ares chuckled.
"I have my reasons. Patroclus will do what you ask and when he does he keeps his life."
"Fine with me, just make sure he does it," Ares grunted and then he soon vanished.
