Author's Note:
Okay, this isn't a very long chapter, it's also not that exciting in my opinion. But I wanted to touch on the Briseis and Achilles side of the story. It won't have too much to do with Maggie but it is an important plot point so I thought she should be aware of it.
Thank you so much to the people who reviewed the last chapter! They were Salsagirl626, Starpossum, and LOTRlover1066. You guys are the best! This chapter is dedicated to you!
Chapter #6:
I was especially glad that Achilles was still refusing to let us work with the Greeks when all the soldiers were sent out to collect the dead from the field. I got the impression that Achilles wanted to send me and Patroclus out as punishment for stealing his wine. Luckily for us he was more intent on teaching Agamemnon a lesson then on teaching us a lesson.
That night we burned the bodies of Menelaus and of Ajax. Achilles went to watch his friend Ajax but didn't attend the burning of Menelaus' body. The other Myrmidons and I watched from further back, with the other soldiers. Afterward I noticed Agamemnon went into his tent accompanied by Nestor and Odysseus.
"Will we leave now?" I asked Eudorus and Patroclus.
"Menelaus won't need a wife now that he's dead," Patroclus pointed out.
"Don't be fools," Eudorus scoffed, "this has never been about Helen for Agamemnon. He wants Troy under his leadership. His brother's wife was merely an excuse, he's been looking for an opportunity to attack Troy and king Priam for years now." Eudorus left to talk to a soldier from a different group.
"I hope we don't leave," Patroclus sighed, "I couldn't bear going back without fighting a single battle."
"Why are you so intent on fighting in a battle?" I just about shouted with frustration. "I've told you a thousand times, it's not any fun!" Patroclus glared at me for a beat before replying.
"The soldiers just don't take me seriously. They don't treat me with the respect they show to him."
"Just act like Achilles," I suggested, "you look enough like him to cause the men to start treating you like Achilles if you start acting like him." Patroclus gazed over at his cousin thoughtfully.
A little bit later as I was walking back to my tent I saw a group of rowdy Greek soldiers preparing to brand a Trojan prisoner. She was a woman wearing the clothes of a priestess. I felt sorry for the poor woman and decided to try to help her.
But before I could do anything, or even come up with a plan Achilles stormed past me. He grabbed the red hot branding stick from the man who had been holding it and shoved it through his throat. Then he swung it like a sword to slash a second man's throat. Then he picked the woman up off the ground and carried her gently away. I jogged over to catch up. Hearing me behind him he turned fiercely but when he saw it was only me he kept walking the way he had been going.
"I was about to do… something along those lines." Honestly I wasn't sure what I could have done. I was slightly taken aback that Achilles was willing to kill to protect a prisoner but I wasn't about to ask any questions.
"Sure you were," he sighed. "Would you go and fetch some water, bandages, and food?"
"I can do that," I responded. "Where should I bring them?" I asked.
"To my tent," he answered.
"Oh," I said, the So that's what this is about, part unsaid but clearly implied.
"It's not like that," Achilles defended himself. I don't know what it was but something about his voice made me believe him. I scurried off to get the water, bandages, and food without another word. I got them to his tent just as they reached it. I set them down inside and left to go to sleep and ponder over what had happened.
When I woke up the first person I saw Eudorus. He came over to me with a serious expression.
"We are to set sail for home," he told me bluntly, "it looks as if you get your wish." I laughed with relief and gave him a hug. Eudorus pushed me off with a curse but I ignored him.
"I'm going to live," I sang causing a lot of soldiers to look our way, "I'm going to live!" With a groan Eudorus smacked me in the face.
"Stop doing that," he hissed, "you're causing a scene."
"I don't care we're going to live!" I saw Patroclus come over. "Patroclus!" I cheered, "we're going to live! I've got to go pack!" And with that I rushed off leaving the two stunned men staring after me.
As I passed by Achilles I stopped to give him a hug too. He pushed me away as well and then shot me an evil look.
"Thank you!" I cried ignoring the look. Just then Patroclus came up.
"We're going home?" he asked scornfully. It wasn't really a question though, it was obvious that Achilles was ready to leave.
"We sail in the morning," Achilles answered after a pause.
"Isn't it great?" I practically gushed.
"Shut up Maggie," both cousins growled as one.
"There's that uncanny resemblance," I muttered but then decided to stop talking.
"Greeks are being slaughtered," Patroclus continued talking to his cousin, "we can't just sail away."
"If it's fighting you still long for there will always be another war," Achilles reasoned with his cousin, "that I promise you."
"But these are our countrymen," Patroclus argued, "you betray all of Greece just to see Agamemnon fall!" He was definitely yelling now and Eudorus and I exchanged worried glances.
"Someone has to lose," Achilles shot back before stalking back into his tent. Patroclus in turn stalked back towards the boats.
"I'm just glad we aren't the losers," I muttered to Eudorus.
"You'll never be a great warrior," Eudorus assured me as we began to walk away.
"And I'll live the longer for it," I replied smugly. Eudorus rolled his eyes and I began humming happily under my breath.
