Thank you for reviewing! I still have no idea where to go with this story. Sob. Righto, on with Chapter 2. Let me know what you think!

Chapter Two – Thetis

Patroclus gasped and his whole body shuddered from its core. His eyes snapped open and he went rigid in fear as his mind swirled in a mist of confusion and disorientation. Before he had a chance to struggle and escape the horse he rode on, he felt a soft kiss being planted on his head.

"You awake from some terrible dream?" Achilles asked quietly, veering his horse to the left to gallop across some field filled with daisies and dandelions. The passing horse kicked up the dandelions and they scattered into the air like dancing fairies.

The boy twisted round as far as he could in the saddle with eyes wide as saucers and a gaping mouth. In a tidal wave the memories drowned any conscious thought and he once again felt that awful hollowness and numbing pain as his nightmare became reality and he realised his parents really were gone. He felt detached from his body somehow, his mind floated away deep into a black abyss.

Yet, there was Achilles' stare which drew him back and grounded him, pinning him under his gaze. Droplets of water silently overflowed in his emerald eyes and his breath was drawn in and released in shaky, laboured pants.

"Oh Gods." He sobbed and dropped his face into his two hands. Here he was crying in front of the man who he had worshipped since birth.

"Shh, Patroclus." Achilles lifted his cousin so both legs dangled, swinging at one side of his horse's neck and hugged him fiercely with one arm. He seemed to sense the teenager's discomfort.

"It is an honourable thing to grieve for those you have lost. There is no shame in it."

A hiccup or two later and Patroclus fought himself furiously to suppress the emotions. He peeked out from behind his long fingers and with an expression that could only be described as truly miserable he melted into Achilles' strong embrace, face nestled into his older cousin's neck.

"I miss them already and they haven't even been dead a day." He cried. "What will I be like in a week, a month!"

"It gets better in time."

"Really?" He whispered, shaken by his sadness. He pulled back and searched Achilles' eyes for some truth in his words. His action was rewarded by one of those smiles. It seemed to slow his broken, pounding heart and evaporate the tears in his eyes. Patroclus' cheeks turned a glowing shade of pink as he dropped such an intimate gaze.

"I feel like I have known you all my life." He explained bearing his soul and fingering his own tunic shyly.

"I know the feeling. We will be great friends, you and me." Achilles promised. "I will teach you everything I know – which isn't much!" He laughed loudly and kicked his horse faster.

A giggle slipped passed Patroclus' grief and he looked back up into his cousin's face, thankful from the short release from his anguish. Achilles placed a hand on his cousin's cheek and touched his nose to the boy's. They were so alike in appearance that they really could pass as brothers. Achilles smiled at the thought. This boy had already sneaked passed his defences and found a special place in his heart. The Great Warrior now had a brother to fight for and protect and he felt a new sense of purpose in his life.

Another half a days riding and the sun was high in the sky and both young men could see the outskirts of Achilles home city. They hadn't spoke in a long while, Achilles occupied with his own thoughts and Patroclus busy taking in the scenery and fidgeting with the silky black mane of the beast that carried them.

The hooves began making sharp 'clip-clop' noises as the ground grew harder as they approached the centre of the town. People outside their homes smiled admirably and waved at Achilles, some even fell to one knee or at the very least dipped their heads in respect. It was such a surreal sensation that Patroclus couldn't help the grin that spread across his gentle features. The sun warmed his skin and he closed his eyes tilting his face to in the direction of the light to bathe in its comfort.

"Mother." Achilles greeted and dropped down from his horse before it had fully stopped.

"Achilles." She smiled and placed a hand on her son's cheek. The man reached up and plucked Patroclus from the saddle and stood him on his two feet with a hand on each shoulder.

"Ah, so this is my dear nephew. You are as handsome as your parents wrote in their letters. They were always so proud of you. You have your mother's eyes and your father's nose." She tapped it with her index finger, laughing softly.

Patroclus dipped his head from the affection and also to shield the sadness that wrapped itself round him. The woman sensed this as she was feeling grief herself and tilted up his chin so he was looking into her eyes. Then she offered him a necklace made of shells and pebbles she had collected from lakes.

"A gift from me, Patroclus."

He took it slowly from her outstretched hand and watched as the sun shone off it making wonderful colours dance across his face and arm.

"Thank you. It's beautiful." He went to drop to one knee, but Achilles raised him with a hand under each arm.

"We are family. None of this." He said with a teasing smirk. Patroclus nodded and hugged the necklace close.

"Thank you."

Thetis laughed and stroked his hair in a motherly gesture.

"Sweet boy. Now, go inside and wash before we all eat."

Patroclus gave his cousin one last grateful smile and ran inside the house.

"He has great pain you know. His eyes bear all the sorrow in his soul."

"I feel a connection to him. It's so strong."

"He is blood, Achilles."

Achilles stared at the door his cousin had just run through.

"Yes he is, mother." And with that, mother and son made their way inside to escape the afternoon heat and to welcome the newest member of their family with open arms.