A/N: Ok, this isn't how I originally had this chapter, I got most of it from something a reviewer said. Enjoy!
Amester: I sent you a private message. My email system is down until I can get back to school and get a new password (damn those password expiry dates!)
just-a-dream01: A new reviewer! I am so glad that you love my story! Thank you so much for your idea about Odysseus! Now all i have to do is edit all my other chapters to include him! I gave Achilles and Hector deeper personalities? Wow, I hadn't actually noticed, thanks. I don't know if I would say this is the best Troy fic, but I'm always a harsh critic of my own work, no matter what it is. Even my singing (long story). I hope that you continue to love my story enough to review more!
Sam: Explanation? Sorry, I haven't been on since I last updated so I've fogotten what I explained, I'm going to hazard a guess and say that it was in the large reply I posted last chapter. If I were Agamemnon I would be so scared that I'd let Achilles do as he pleased! I just figured that Achilles is the type of guy that wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone no matter who they were if they posed a threat to his loved ones. You're welcome! i love updating! I hope that you enjoy this chapter!.
Ok, thank you to all those who have ever reviewed my story. just-a-dream01, this chapter is for you!
A Change Of Alliances
Cheers resounded through the city as the soldiers returned victorious. Achilles looked around for Briseis, but couldn't find her anywhere. He pushed through the Trojans and ran to the room he now shared with Briseis. On the way, he stopped in another of Briseis' rooms and removed his armour, and washed of some of the blood. After putting on a clean tunic, he resumed his run to Briseis' main bedroom.
"Briseis!" he called as he pushed open the door and stepped into the room. He could barely see, as the curtains had been closed. He could just see a figure lying on the bed, its back to him.
"Briseis?" he called softly as he slowly walked across the room.
"Achilles?" a voice replied. The figure on the bed moved and he saw Briseis. Her cheeks were wet with tears and shone whenever light hit them.
"Achilles!" Briseis cried. She jumped up from the bed and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. Fresh tears fell down her cheeks as she held onto her love.
"Oh Achilles! I thought that I'd never see you again!" Briseis wailed. She dug her nails into Achilles' back almost drawing blood.
Achilles wrapped his arms around Briseis and kissed her hair.
"I told you that I would come back, I thought you believed me," Achilles whispered, his breath hot against her scalp. She squeezed him tighter.
"Never leave me," she pleaded.
"I promise that as long as there is air in my lungs and strength in my legs, I will always come back to you," Achilles promised. Briseis tilted her head up and kissed him softly. Achilles picked her up and laid her on the bed, holding her to him lovingly. Within moments of lying down, they were both in the land of dreams where anything was possible.
"Odysseus!" Achilles called as he made his way across the battle ground to Odysseus. It had been a long time since he had spoken with the wise king.
"Achilles," Odysseus acknowledged.
"I have a proposition that may just save your life,"
"My life is in danger? My boy, this is a war, every man's life is in danger,"
"You know what I mean. The Trojans are becoming stronger while the Greeks are becoming weaker. You know that my Myrmidon and I fight for Troy now, I ask you to join us. Troy is a grand city, with wonderful people. Fight with me, fight for Troy, fight with the winners,"
"Achilles, Achilles, Achilles. What would the Trojans say to having another Greek join their ranks? What would happen to my family? My country? I, unlike you, cannot just change sides on a whim. My decision must take time, for which ever way I go, my path will leave many problems. If you can guarantee the safety of Ithaca, Penelope, my people, then I will fight for Troy,"
Achilles stood silently in front of the king.
"I thought as much. As much as I would love to fight along side you, I can't. But, if it will make you feel better, I'll think about it. Tonight while we all collect our dead, I will make my decision. If I come to the walls, I have chosen Troy, if you don't see me until the battle tomorrow, then I have chosen Greece."
"Fair enough, I shall wait upon the wall," Achilles stretched out his hand. Odysseus shook it, then they resumed their fighting.
"Where are you going?" Briseis whispered in the dark. She rolled over and held the sheet up to her chest.
"Nowhere, I just need some air, that is all, go back to sleep," Achilles waited until Briseis' breathing evened out.
He crept down the halls and out to the wall. He nodded to the sentries on duty and explained why he was there, that he needed some air. He leaned against the rail and looked out over the plain of Troy. Soldiers with large stretchers collected the unclaimed dead. During the day's fighting, so many men fell and became trampled that their bodies were unrecognisable, while others were stripped. When the soldiers came to collect their dead and found bodies they couldn't identify as their own men, they did what they could, they left them there. After all identified bodies had been taken away, Trojan soldiers went out to carry the rest of the bodies away, whether they were Trojan or Greek, it didn't matter, they deserved the right to have a proper funeral.
A lone man walked up to the walls and waved at Achilles. It was Odysseus. Achilles ran down the stairs that led up to the wall.
"Open the gates!" he barked at the sentries. They gave him funny looks then slowly opened the gates, allowing him to go outside.
"Odysseus!" he called. The other man began to jog to where Achilles stood.
"Achilles,"
"You have made your choice then,"
"Aye, that I have. If you have room for two-hundred more warriors in there, then I gladly accept your offer," Odysseus nodded to the trees beside the walls. Amongst the trees were Ithacan warriors. Although Ithaca was only a small place, it had very fine warriors.
"Give me five minutes. I am only a guest here, so I must seek Hector and ask him. Wait here," with that Achilles ran back inside the gates in search of Hector.
Five minutes later, the gates opened again and Achilles emerged followed by a cautious Hector.
"Hector, this is Odysseus, king of Ithaca. He and his men would like to fight for Troy. He has two-hundred fine Ithacan warriors waiting amongst the trees. Would you allow another ally?" Achilles introduced the two.
"You want to fight for Troy? Why?" Hector questioned. He had heard of the wise king of Ithaca.
"Achilles spoke with me during today's battle and made me realise that the Greeks are fighting a lost cause.My men and I hold nothing against Troy. For us to continue to wage war on your people is wrong. The only one who was wronged is Menelaus, he is gone now, and Agamemnon continues to fight against you. I find this wrong. With Menelaus dead, Greece has no need for Helen. I want this war over, and I want Agamemnon dead," Hector listened.
"I think we can find room for you in the palace, I can't guarantee that the quarters we have will be big enough, but it is all we can offer," Hector replied. Odysseus smiled. Hector signalled for the gate to be opened, then waited for Odysseus and his men to enter, before entering himself.
The next day, everyone in Troy was shocked to find more Greeks inside the walls, putting on Trojan armour, preparing to fight. Ever since the sudden and unexpected arrival of Achilles and his Myrmidon, the Trojan citizens knew that any Greeks that changed sides had been persuaded to do so by Achilles.
"Odysseus, I look forward to fighting beside you instead of against you," Hector smiled, then led the soldiers through the gates and into battle.
The Greeks gasped and shuddered as once again they saw their former allies fighting against them. The battle that day was fierce, more fierce than usual, as the latest Greek traitors tried to prove that they were dedicated to defending Troy.
Every day the same things happened, Achilles went off to fight with Hector and the Trojans. Briseis went with Andromache and Helen and did the 'womanly' chores, then sat and gossipped or prepared for the return of their husbands. For one year this routine continued, never changing, until, one day it did.
After ten long years of war, suddenly the tables turned, the Gods had decided who would win, they were tired of this war, today, the war would end, with surprising results.
TO BE CONTINUED…..