You folks know the drill... I own none of the characters (Homer did), I'm just borrowing them for a little while. I get no money from any of this, it was just a chance to see what kind of writer I might be. So please don't sue me, you won't get anything anyhow. Read and eanjoy (or cringe)!

Chapter 5 Guest Of Achilles

I didn't wake until noon the next day. Everything was quiet. I stretched and rolled over to find Achilles watching me. For a moment I was frightened. I was a slave after all. What if I was going to be punished for not getting up and serving him?

He smiled contentedly at me. "Are you rested?"

I lowered my gaze, still a little frightened. "Yes."

"When you feel like getting up, there is a tunic - it's probably too large, but it's the best I could find." He inclined his head to the side. I turned my head slightly till I could see the fabric draped over something. "And food here. Feel free to go outside, but I strongly suggest that you stay within the bounds of the Myrmidon camp." He got to his feet and left the hut.

I got up then and put on the tunic. As he suspected, it was too large for me, but it was clean and it covered everything that should be covered. It was greenish yellow in color and was not cut in the least like my white and blue robes. That's when it hit me. I was no longer a priestess. Perhaps the gods would forgive me, but I was no longer a virgin, therefore, no longer a priestess. It saddened me deeply, until the smell of food brought my attention to the refilled platter of fruit, and a small bowl of goats' milk beside it. There was also some cold meat and bread on another plate. After I had eaten my fill, I wandered about and actually caught myself straightening things up. I didn't stop. I was no longer a princess. I was a slave. I did finally get bored of sitting, waiting for Achilles to return and ventured past the flap. None of the men gave me a second glance, nor moved to accost me. I was free to roam the camp as he had said. I walked down to the water's edge, where the waves met the sand. The sun was warm on my bruised body and the water cool to my bare feet. The wind blew my tangled hair across my face. It felt oddly exhilarating to be a slave. Perhaps I was going insane. I felt eyes on me and I turned to see Patroclus walking toward me.

"I found something in our stores and thought that you might like to have it," he called as he drew nearer. He held out something both wood and silver.

When I took it from him, I saw that it was a comb. I thanked him and asked if there was anything that was expected of me.

He gave me a curious look. "Why would there be?" Someone called for him and he hurried away, leaving me alone again. I made my way back to my master's hut, wondering what game he was playing at now. He still wasn't there, so I settled on the pile of furs and began to comb out my hair. I eventually fell asleep again.

That evening after supper, Achilles sat on his bed and held his hand out to me. I somehow knew that I could refuse. He would never force me, I knew that now. The fact was that I wanted to be with him. I wanted him to hold me and touch me.
During a lull in our lovemaking, I looked deeply into his eyes. "Am I still your captive?"

He smiled warmly. "You're a guest."

"In Troy, a guest can leave whenever they want."

"You should leave then."

Neither of us moved.

I reached up to touch his chiseled jaw. By the powers of the gods! He was the most beautiful man I'd ever known. Lovelier even then Hector and Paris, whom till now I'd sworn, in a rather biased way, were the most beautiful men in the world. How could one man affect me so by simply fixing me in his blue gaze? "Would you leave this all behind?"

He knew what I meant. Would he abandon his quest for glory and stop with the fighting and warring? His answer silenced me. "Would you leave Troy?"

Would I? Could I? I didn't know. On one hand, what was here for me now? I was disgraced. I could not return to my post as a priestess of Apollo, nor would any Trojan man wish to marry me now. I would live out my days as an old maid in the palace. But on the other hand, there was my family; my uncle and cousins. They probably thought that I was dead, murdered in the temple. And Andromache... Hector's lovely wife was a close friend whom I loved dearly, and their little son. He was the next generation of Trojan princes. Could I leave and not watch him grow up to chase the girls like his Uncle Paris, or lead an army gallantly to victory like his father? Could I leave it all behind? I didn't know, so I said nothing and snuggled closer to my host, relishing the feel and smell of him. I would decide in the morning.

We were awakened some time later by the sounds of battle and a strange roar. Achilles leapt from the bed and threw on a sarong before grabbing his sword and running from the hut. I slipped my oversized tunic over my head and cautiously exited as well.

He half turned, warning me back with an outstretched arm.

"What is it?" I asked, frightened.

"The Greeks are being attacked," he answered, finally allowing me to come to him. He put one arm protectively around my shoulders as we watched the sky glow from burning tents and ships. "That is why we camped away from them. We should be safe." He charged his men to watchfulness before leading me back into the hut. "I am leaving these shores tomorrow," he said, as he returned his sword. He sat on the edge of the bed before continuing. "My men and I are returning home. I ask you to come... As my wife."

I gasped.

"I will not force you to come. I am asking. If you do not wish to leave Troy, I will personally drive you to the city gates in my chariot and return you to your family."

The time had come to decide, and I was no closer to the answer than I had been some hours before. "I don't know." I whispered.

He nodded and held his hand out to me. I again went to him and he held me tightly for the rest of the night. It was as if he were wordlessly trying to convince me to go with him, or he was simply savoring his remaining time with me.

Little did we know as we lay there together, that Fate had already decided for me and in the morning, the world as I knew it would never return.