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 6: Briseis Of Tears

We awoke the next morning to an eerie silence. I suppose that it was the absence of sound that awoke us, for the battle raged all morning after a night long bombardment of the Greeks. Neither of us wanted to face the day and the decisions that must be made, so we put off the world for a little while longer.

"Achilles," someone called from outside. Neither of us had undressed after the bombardment began. So he simply got up and stepped out. I was going to wait for him, but something didn't feel right, so I followed. I hesitated once I was half way out, but finally emerged completely, yet didn't advance.

The older man, Eudorus was facing the golden warrior, with a look of utter terror. Achilles was accusing him of leading the Myrmidons into combat.

"I didn't lead them, my lord. We thought you did."

Achilles looked like he was going to choke and began to look about the camp. "Where's Patroclus?" he asked quietly. No one moved or answered so with a louder voice he called for the young man. "Patroclus!"

The older Myrmidon was on his knees before Achilles, looking as if he were about to weep. "We thought he was you, my lord. He wore your armor, your shield, your greaves, your helmet. He even moved like you."

I could tell by the tenseness in my love's stance that he was becoming angry and what little I could see of his face was growing harder by the second, and more panicked. "Where is he?" he shouted, lashing out and striking Eudorus hard across the face, knocking him to the sand. This was bad. I was frightened for the man and began dashing forward, but didn't try to stop it, yet. "Where?" Achilles sounded desperate, almost pleading.

"He- he's dead, my lord. Hector cut his throat."

I choked on my own breath, but I didn't have time to consider the gravity of this statement, for my love lashed out again, this time with his foot, crushing the other man's throat beneath it. I couldn't stand the thought of anyone else dying. I had to stop it. "Don't! Don't!" I pleaded, rushing forward, expecting to embrace and comfort Achilles, but his hand caught me by the throat before I reached him. I gasped from the shock, but no air was getting in. Gods spare me! I thought I was going to die by the hand of the man I had come to love. I whimpered as the tears rose, but before I blacked out he threw me to the ground beside Eudorus. He stepped back, murder shining in his blue eyes, I was trembling as he turned from us and picked up a sword, but instead of turning back and killing us, he stormed away.

The men scrambled to get out of his path.

When he was gone, everyone returned silently to the duties they had abandoned to follow their supposed leader to the battle. No one spoke to or even looked at me as I curled up on the warm sand and wept. I knew now what would happen. I didn't want it to, but I could tell it would. One of the men I loved; either my cousin Hector, who was like a brother to me, or my love, was going to die, soon. I'm not sure how long I lay there in the sand and cried all the pent up tears for my family and country. Before, my tears had been about myself and what would happen to me. I no longer cared. My family was in danger now, and if anything happened to Hector, I feared that the city would fall with him. If Hector died, so would Troy, for my uncle was old and weak, and Paris... Paris was nothing but a hopeless romantic who did not command the respect of the army, nor did he have the know-how to lead them. My world was crashing to bits all around me.

The chill wind and lengthening shadows of evening brought me out of myself. I cautiously entered the hut. Achilles wasn't there. Relieved, I hurried to clean myself up and straighten anything I could find out of place. I had just sat down on the pile of furs in the corner, hugging my knees to my chest when he finally returned. Without a word to me, he changed from his dirty, sweat soaked robes to his light leather armor. He dug around until he found some other items that he sought and left again. He didn't look at me even once and the expression on his face was frightening. It was set and cold like stone. I waited a few minutes before following him out to where he had built his cousin's funeral pyre. He was now preparing the body. I would have offered to help, but I was too frightened. All the Greeks were gathering as the sun settled into its bed of darkness. I stood afar off and watched through silent tears as I offered what prayers I could for the boy's safe passage.

Once the fire was lit under the body, most of the Greeks and even the Myrmidons quietly dispersed; except for myself, Achilles, and Eudorus. Eventually, even he turned away and stared back to camp, when he came to me, he gently turned my shoulders and led me back to my love's hut. "Do not expect him tonight, and if you see him in the morning, I suggest you stay out of his way, unless he speaks to you first." I nodded my understanding and he sat down just outside the door. I eventually cried myself to sleep on the pile of furs.

I awoke early at the sound of Achilles' voice. "Eudorus."

"My Lord." I heard feet scraping sand as he scrambled to his feet.

"I need my armor."

I whimpered and turned my face to the wall, refusing to even look at him when he entered.

"Briseis. Out."

I got up and hurried out. I didn't go far, though. I found a place out of the way, but where I could see everything, and there I sat to collect my thoughts.

Someone was leading Achilles' chariot to meet him as he stepped from the hut, wearing his full suit of armor. I started running to try one last time to stop him.

Eudorus stepped onto the chariot behind my love, but he was ordered down.

"Don't go!" I pleaded as I neared the chariot.

He ignored me. "Rope!"

"Hector's my cousin. He's a good man." I was nearly crying again as I pleaded for Hector's life. "Don't fight him! Please, don't fight him!" I could see that my pleas were falling on ears of cold stone, but I couldn't stop. "Please!"

He didn't even look at me. He picked up the reigns and drove away as dread settled into the pit of my stomach. I had failed. I had failed to save my cousin from Achilles, and my love from himself. Eudorus lightly patted my shoulder then turned and walked away. I stood for some time, not knowing what to do, till an echo carried over the sands reached my ears. Achilles was calling out my cousin. I covered my ears, but I couldn't block out the sound of grief mixed with anger as he screamed for Hector to come out. With a cry, I ran into the hut and threw myself onto the furs and covered my head.