*****Back with another update. Please enjoy! I will try my best to upload at least once a week. Please leave reviews. Thanks! Just an FYI I have made some mistakes in previous chapters. I do not create rough drafts, I simply write, edit and paste online. I believe between chapter's 5-10 it was stated that Patroclus does not have a girlfriend. He does if you have read all the chapters posted. Please disregard that era. It is also stated that Merina only has one brother. That is also wrong. She has two. I will eventually edit those chapters when I have time to go back and edit them. Right now, I am working on completing this story. This may be a long chapter. ******
"Oh no! I'm late! I really can't afford to lose this job!" The young woman grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder. It was a warm spring day in Greece. The air was warm but, pleasant. The wind made everything much more comfortable. The young woman tripped on her dress on the way out of her house. She tied her long black hair into a ponytail as she zoomed down the cobble stoned road. The roads were full of people going about their daily lives. Merchants were selling products, children were playing in the street, men were lifting heavy objects. A normal Grecian day. Minka was a beautiful girl. Her slightly tanned skin from the Grecian sun was always free of blemishes. She had thick eyebrows that were shaped perfectly for her facial shape. Her nose was small, and her face was round. She didn't come from a rich family. Her family fell on hard times. Minka worked very hard to help support her family. Her father had fallen ill and couldn't work anymore. Since her mother was taking care of her father, Minka decided to go to work. She had just landed a job at a popular tavern. Minka overslept and was now minutes late for her shift. Just her luck.
"Excuse me!" Minka yelled as she squeezed her way through the clusters of people. It was like no one was paying attention to her. Once she was able to squeeze through, she made a sharp left towards the road where the tavern was located. As she turned, she bumped into someone. She hit her nose against something hard. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" Minka held her nose trying to ease the pain.
"Are you talking to me?" A man asked taking a bite into an apple.
"Yes! You! You can't be serious! There's no one else here but you!" She shouted. When the man noticed that she was holding her nose, he grabbed her face with his strong hands. "What the hell are you doing?!" Minka yelled. Her bright eyes met golden eyes that were plastered on a face that was so strikingly beautiful. The man before her was insanely handsome. Never had she seen a man like him before. His features were perfect. His gold and green hair accented his sun kissed skin perfectly. His smile was devilish yet, so alluring. He was tall and from the looks of his arms, quite muscular. Minka gulped then pushed the man's hand away from her face.
"Sorry if I made that weird. I was just checking to see if you were bleeding." He spoke.
"I'm not. I'm ok" Minka said shyly.
"Good. A face as beautiful as yours shouldn't have any scratches." When the man spoke his words, Minka's cheeks were set on fire. The man saw her flushed face. He laughed.
"What's so funny?!" Minka yelled.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you either."
"It's fine." Minka said looking at the ground. Beautiful she was but, she never had any experience talking with men.
"Name." The man said chowing on his shiny red apple.
"Name?" Minka was confused.
"You have a name, don't you?"
"Me." Minka responded.
"Your name is me?" The man asked.
"No! I mean me like myself me. Me me." The man raised an eyebrow. Minka placed her hand in the palm of her hand. "Forget it. My name is Minka."
"Minka?" The man repeated. "Such a boring name."
"WHAT!?" Minka yelled.
"I would've thought your name would have been Diametes or something like that."
"You know, you're a real jerk." Minka said folding her arms across her chest. The man laughed once more. Minka looked at the man. He was dressed in white linen pants and a short sleeve linen shirt. The shirt was tucked in his pants which were hoisted up by an orange sash of some sort. She saw he was wearing a golden band around the wrist of his arm. He was dressed finely. "Who are you?" Minka asked.
"My names Achilles." Minka's eyes widened.
"Y-you're A-Achilles?"
"Is that hard to believe?" Achilles asked as he took another bite of his apple.
"N-no. I just never thought I would ever lay eyes upon you." Achilles winked.
"Well, now you have." Achilles winked. Minka's cheeks flushed red as she stared at the handsome man before her. She swallowed. "Where are you in a rush to?" Achilles asked Minka. Minka didn't respond. She was lost in Achilles's beauty. "Umm, hello?" Achilles cleared his throat. Minka snapped out of her daze.
"Oh yes! Me. Well, I was on my way to work."
"Work aye?" Achilles replied.
"Yes, work. Some people are not born rich like you son of Peleus."
"Indeed. You are right. However,"
"However, what?" Minka said as she placed a book into the bag around her shoulders.
"I never knew that peasant women held such beauty." Achilles said handing her another book. "I see you like to read books."
"I do." The woman said taking the book out of Achilles's hand. Before Minka took the book, he read the title.
"The princesses of the 5 elements?"
"Yes?" Minka said as she began to walk off. Achilles followed her.
"What is that about?"
"The title is self-explanatory. Is it not?" Minka replied walking up a flight of cobble stoned stairs.
"Enlighten me. Expand my knowledge." Achilles said dodging a merchant steering a wagon full of apples.
"Fine. It is about 5 princesses. The story takes place in a distant land to the west of Greece. Each princess is born with a curse of some sorts. One with the curse of ice, one with fire, one with water, one with wind, and one with lighting. They each hold the power of the 5 elements. It's a tragic tale of loss, love, sacrifice and life."
"Similar to some Greek tales?' Achilles asked.
"Yes. Some aspects are similar." Minka replied. Minka stopped in front of a wooden tavern door.
"Is this your workplace?"
"Yes, it is." Minka replied. "This is where we depart, Sir Achilles." Minka said slightly bowing.
"There's no need to bow." Achilles said. Minka's cheeks turned red once more. "Who said that this will be the last time we meet?" Minka rolled her eyes.
"I did."
"Don't be like that." Achilles said touching the young woman's shoulder. "In 3 nights, I will be at the lake beside the palace here in Sparta when the moon is at its highest peak." Minka raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"I will see you again there. I'm not asking." Achilles bit into his apple once more. "Remember, I know where you work." Achilles winked and ran off into the town. Minka stood with her mouth open. She blinked her eyes and turned to enter the tavern.
Three days had passed and Minka was almost done with her shift. She was placing plates inside of a cabinet. Minka tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. She looked out of the window and saw a white orb in the center of the sky. She inhaled. "It's not there yet."
"What's not there?" Minka felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped.
"Oh. Amelia, you startled me." Minka faced the busty blonde. "I was just talking to myself. Speaking of which, I need to get home, do you mind placing these dishes away for me? It's the last set."
"Sure. No problem!" Amelia beamed.
"Thanks so much." Minka untied her hair and apron. She placed her apron on a hook and grabbed her bag. "I'll see everyone tomorrow. Good night." Minka said dashing out of the door. Amelia cocked her head to the side. A short man with a pig like nose peeked throughout a small window from the kitchen.
"She seems to be in a hurry." Panthos said. Amelia chuckled.
"Mhm. She does."
The moon was almost at its highest peak. The white light was bright and illuminated the entire palace. Minka saw that guards were surrounding the palace. How did Achilles expect her to get past them? Minka sighed. She stood behind a pillar and went into deep thought as a relaxing breeze passed by. She closed her eyes and looked at the moon. The wind blew towards the west. Minka darted from pillar to pillar, carefully concealing herself behind each one making sure the guards didn't see her. Luckily for her, the guards were chatting amongst each other. Minka tiptoed behind a water fountain. As she was about to make a run for it once more, she saw two maids making their way past the opposite side of the fountain. One maid had blonde hair and the other maid had brown hair. Minka kneeled low. The maid with the blonde hair head turned.
"What's wrong?" The other maid asked.
"I swore I saw someone there" The blonde maid replied.
"Are you sure it just wasn't the wind?" The maid with blonde hair stared at the fountain. Minka made sure to hold still and held her breath.
"Maybe you're right." The blonde-haired maid shook her head. "Maybe it was just my imagination." The pair soon continued to make their way across the palace grounds. Minka sighed in relief. Her heart was beating extremely fast.
"I have to be crazy." Minka thought. Minka continued to make her way to the lake. In order to get to the lake, permission was needed cross the palace grounds. It was only permitted to cross the palace grounds during the day. Minka could not get Achilles's face out of her head. She thought he was handsome. He was one of the most handsome men she ever laid eyes upon. Minka continued to walk and soon heard water. She knew it wasn't the fountain. She had long passed it. As she approached the lake, she saw a figure in the distance. As she got closer, she could see the figure more clearly. It was him. There he was siting on the ground gazing at the moon. Minka finger combed her hair and made her way over towards him. Achilles smirked. He felt her presence.
"So, you came." Minka's face turned as red as an apple.
"I-I did." She stuttered.
"I knew you would." Achilles said with a seductive smirk. Minka looked down at the dirt ground. Achilles was still sitting on the ground. He patted the ground beside him. "Please. Sit."
"Ok." Minka did so. She gulped. It wasn't long until the two were lost in a deep conversation.
*************This is just a chapter to give more background information of Achilles's life. I will continue with the original storyline. I am still brain storming. I'm so sorry I took a hiatus from this story. Life happens but, I am determined to finish it. Next chapter will probably be very lemony*************