Ok, so here you go – the revised edition of Chapter 7. And no, Amanda-Kay: don't worry. It wasn't because of you that I've changed this, and I did understand what you meant about Paris. If you're going to flame me, you'll just have to try a little bit harder hun'!

I hope this is better – I know the majority of reviews that I got were really complimentary, but I know I can do better (thanks to Siyavash for pointing that out to me), so I hope you like this just as much, if not more, than the last chapter, and that it is actually in character.

Anyway, chapter 8 shouldn't be long on it's way, so look out for it soon :D

Chapter Seven; You Found Me

'Is this a dream?
If it is
Please don't wake me from this high
I've become comfortably numb
Until you opened up my eyes
To what it's like
When everything's right'

Kelly Clarkson, 'You Found Me'

It was late into the night by the time Achilles made it into Troy. He stood on the balcony outside Briseis' room, breathing heavily, and looking through the curtain that the wind had blown back from the doorway to where Briseis lay on her bed, on top of the silken sheets, her hair fanned out around her as she slept, her face peaceful.

For one short moment, Achilles considered turning back, but then the anger rose in his chest once more, and he knew that he had to find out why she had done that to him. She may look like an angel when she slept, but she had hurt him more than any human had ever done before, and he had to find out why.

Briseis must have fallen asleep for she suddenly woke up, aware that something was not right. She propped herself up on her elbows, looking around the room. The sun had set and her room was in darkness, but Briseis somehow knew she was not alone.

"Who's there?" she called out nervously, her eyes sweeping around the darkened room as she searched for movement.

"Paris? Is that you?" she called again, aware of how thin and reedy her voice was.

There was no answer, but Briseis saw a shape move by the balcony. An all too familiar shape, and one that was definitely not Paris'.

"Achilles?" she asked tentatively as he stepped through the doorway and into her room, approaching her with firm, deliberate steps. He did not speak but simply continued silently towards her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to sound brave, for now he was closer, she could see his angry eyes, and his set jaw.

"What are you doing here?" she repeated again, trying to summon the courage she did not feel.

"I need to talk to you," he said, stopping by the bed.

Briseis stumbled to her feet quickly, considering calling for help.

"Then talk," she said flatly.

"Your cousin has challenged me to a duel," Achilles said in a flat, monotonous tone.

"Paris?" Briseis asked, almost shaking with fear.

"Do you want to know why he challenged me?" there was no emotion in his voice, and that was worse than any amount of anger.

Unable to speak, Briseis nodded.

"Not because I killed his brother. Because I raped you." Achilles spoke harshly, each word worse than a blow to Briseis.

He moved towards Briseis, and she took step after faltering step backwards, until she hit the wall. She flattened herself against it, terrified, but unable to move or scream out.

"I raped you," Achilles stressed each word. "Now why would he say that? Unless it was what you told him!" he roared, slamming his palm onto the wall beside Briseis head.

She flinched and closed her eyes, waiting for the blow that never came.

"I have never raped a woman in my life. I did not rape you. You went to my bed willingly. And yet you tell your dear little cousin that I raped you," Briseis flinched as each harsh word fell, cutting into her heart.

Her eyes suddenly flew open and they met the cold blue ones inches from her face. She was suddenly filled with an immense anger: at Achilles, at Paris, but most of all at herself.

"You have no idea what you took from me!" she said suddenly, her anger greater than her fear. "What I sacrificed in your tent! I lost my honour, my reputation, even my self-respect. Now I am nothing: I cannot go back to the temple, I cannot be married off. I will live out my days isolated in the palace for daring to love a Greek!" she hurled the words at Achilles, readying herself for a fight, but he was strangely silent.

"Love?" he asked quietly.

Briseis' eyes flashed with momentary anger at having let herself say that. "Love," she admitted finally, regretting having ever said the word. "And this is my punishment for such a sin," she spoke mockingly, but Achilles heard real regret in her voice.

They stood immobile, each of their eyes on the other's. Achilles' breathing was ragged as he searched for an explanation in Briseis' eyes. He had not expected this from her, and now he was faced with it he was not sure what to do.

"But why did you get your cousin to challenge me to a duel?" he asked finally, in a very different tone from the one he had been using earlier. "I thought you hated it when I fought Hector?"

Briseis' closed her eyes momentarily, weighed down with the load that the memory carried with it. When they opened again they were no longer angry but sad. "I did not ask him to. I never said you raped me. I swear it," a note of panic registered in her voice, for she could not help but be scared of the tall muscular man who leaned over her. "I just did not say that I went to you of my own free will," she finished, in a broken voice.

Achilles did not reply, but Briseis suddenly became aware of just how close he was to her. She could smell the rough scent of leather and horse sweat on him, could feel his breath on her face, and she knew that if she dared to look into his eyes, she would see the same desire in there as burned in her own.

"I…I'm so scared of them," Briseis admitted in a small voice, her eyes firmly downcast and avoiding his eyes. "I've failed them."

"You have not failed," Achilles said, with such ferocity in his voice that Briseis glanced up, and she realised her mistake a fraction of a second before her lips met his in a fierce and violent kiss. Doubts flashed through Briseis' mind for a moment about the wisdom of what she was doing, but her body ached for him so much that these doubts were short lived, and she found herself kissing him back with a desperation and passion that equalled his, her arms snaking around his back and pulling his body closer to hers. Both knew that this would likely be the last night they ever spent together, and all thoughts of tenderness and gentleness were gone in a desperate bid to make all they could of the few precious hours that they had left together.

Briseis woke in the grey pre-dawn light, her head resting on Achilles' chest. He was awake, gently curling his fingers through her hair as he watched her sleep.

Briseis gave a small murmur and rolled over so that she was facing her lover. He leant forwards and kissed her lightly, and with a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder. They lay in silence together for a moment, both knowing that they needed to part, both unable to find the will to do so.

"I should go," Achilles' voice was full of regret when he finally spoke.

Briseis murmured something inaudible and curled up tighter against him. He humoured her for a moment, closing his eyes and forgetting everything, but he sensed that the sun was about to rise and knew he would never leave Troy if he stayed.

Achilles kissed the top of Briseis' head gently, and swung his legs over the side of the bed, hunting for his clothes. She passed him his shirt and then sat up, hugging her knees to her body as he dressed.

He threw her a white shift, and she pulled it on and walked over to him, her fingers running lightly down his arms. Their eyes met as she buckled his sword around his waist, and it was all she could do to keep tears from springing to her eyes.

Achilles suddenly realised that he was losing the one thing he really treasured, and he pulled her close. They stood motionless, locked in an embrace neither wanted to end. Briseis felt a tear run down her cheek and she buried her face deeper into Achilles' chest to stop the sobs. Achilles suddenly lifted Briseis tear-stained face up and kissed her gently.

"Briseis," Achilles said softly, releasing her.

"Don't say it!" she warned him in a choked voice.

"I love you," he told her, ignoring her warning.

Briseis gave a small cry and buried her face in her hands, sobbing.

"I told you not to say it!" she whispered.

Achilles bent forwards to kiss her. Their lips touched for the last time, and Briseis thought her heart would break.

"Don't make me grieve for you," she whispered fiercely as they pulled apart.

Achilles nodded once to her, to show that he understood that from the moment he left her room, he was nothing more than a memory to her. She could not let him take over her life, and so she had to let him go, completely and utterly.

They stood facing each other, their eyes locked, for a short moment. Neither spoke, words seeming useless to express their thoughts, and so Achilles' just inclined his head by way of a farewell, before turning sharply and striding across the room and out onto the balcony.

Briseis did not watch him go, but stood still, staring at the space that he had so recently vacated. 'So this is it,' she thought. 'This is where it ends'.