Disclaimer: I do not own Troy or any of the affiliated characters

Chapter 9: The Gentleman

At sundown, the two returned to find the camp was in chaos. The main source of the commotion, they saw, was coming from a tent straight ahead of them.

"That's Achilles's tent," Patroclus said worriedly, picking up his pace. When he heard his cousin's yell, he broke into a run, covering the remaining distance quickly.

Adara gasped and Patroclus turned to her. "Briseis," she said, seeing her friend being carried off by a very large solder. She was throwing kicks and punches, struggling with all her might, but the man barely even acknowledged her resistance. Nor, it seemed, did he pay attention to Achilles, who was still yelling. Patroclus was relieved to see his cousin had no weapon with him.

"Eudorus," Patroclus asked quietly, moving with Adara next to the man. "What's happened?"

"Agamemnon has ordered the prisoners to be taken back to his tent," Eudorus explained, looking awkward.

"What did Achilles do?" he asked. Then he caught on to what Eudorus said and didn't wait for an answer before asking, "Prisoners?"

Eudorus nodded. "Both of them."

Patroclus took a half-step back in an attempt to cover Adara, but he was too late. "There!" a gruff voice yelled. A second large man, much like the one who had carried off Briseis, started towards them. Adara saw Patroclus preparing himself for a confrontation.

She knew there were two options. Either Patroclus would defend her and get hurt while she was dragged off to Agamemnon, or she went with the soldier willingly. She quickly ducked under his arm, putting herself between the two men, both dead set on their opposing tasks. "Don't," she whispered. "Please."

Patroclus hesitated before the anger and tension seemed to lessen in his body. She let out a sigh that turned into a gasp when she felt her feet leave the ground and was tossed over the man's shoulder. Her vision shifted and spun so rapidly that she was immediately nauseated. When she found something to focus on, it was Patroclus being restrained by Eudorus, all anger back on his face.

Adara kept her eyes closed the whole time, trying to lessen the sick feeling in her head and stomach. Only after she had been set on the ground, walked forward, and roughly shoved into a sitting position did she open her eyes, taking deep, soothing breaths.

"Adara!" she heard, and turned to see Briseis hurrying towards her across the floor of the tent they were in. The two girls embraced, finding a little comfort in being back together. "You're not hurt, are you?" she asked. "You're being treated well?"

Adara nodded sincerely. "I am," she replied. "And you?" Even though she already knew the answer, she felt the need to ask.

"Yes, until now." The two girls looked around at the familiar tent. It had been just over two weeks since they were last there, but it somehow felt as if it had been both yesterday and months ago.

Adara's thoughts were cut short by the opening of the tent flap. From the shadow, she could see the figure that entered was rather large, and he was taking very slow, relaxed steps, building the tension in the room.

He came to face them, the same familiar sneer on his face. "How...touching," he mocked, seeing the two girls huddled close together. "But it's no fun for me this way. You," he pointed to Briseis, "stand up."

Grudgingly, she did so. Agamemnon surveyed her, walking around her in a circle like some sort of bird of prey, reminding Adara very much of their first encounter with the king. But Briseis stood still, head high, avoiding eye contact with the king Achilles complained about so much. She knew he must have done something to anger Agamemnon, and that was why they were in their current situation.

"Yes," Agamemnon said after a minute, low and quiet. His voice sent sickening chills running up her spine. "Achilles knows how to treat you." At this, Briseis's eyes noticeably widened, and Agamemnon smiled at the hole in her guard. With a nod, he motioned for Adara to stand.

Determined to follow Briseis's lead, she slowly stood, head up high. When he passed her, she stared straight ahead, but when he couldn't see her face, she kept moving her eyes, all over the tent. In her mind, she screamed what she saw, trying to block out how vulnerable the king made her feel. It didn't help until she spotted a piece of cloth, dyed light blue. It was so light, like ice, similar to Patroclus's eyes. She took a deep breath and focused on the cloth, finding solace in its color.

Until, of course, Agamemnon came into her line of sight, making direct eye contact with her. His expression changed dramatically. The fake smile fell, and a suspicious, curious eyebrow rose. He moved in closer to her, his mouth next to her ear, making every fight or flight reflex in her body tense. "What a gentleman our young Patroclus has been," he commented quietly.

Adara kept her breathing even, her face calm, and her body still. But on the inside, she fell apart. Her heart pounded and her mind raced. What did he see? How could he know?

"What to do about that..." he trailed off, a malicious sneer back on his face. Adara tasted bile in her mouth, but forced herself to swallow. Her throat burned now, and her eyes watered a little.

Thankfully, the arrival of another person distracted Agamemnon. "Odysseus?" the king asked as he walked towards him.

At the name, Adara turned to let him see her. He cast her a quick glance and gave her a brief, almost imperceptible nod before returning his attention to the king. "I wish to speak to you."

Agamemnon hesitated, then asked, annoyed, "This is about Achilles, isn't it?"

"It is an urgent matter," Odysseus explained. "And I wish to speak to you about it immediately."

Agamemnon sighed, taking the answer to mean it was about Achilles. "Very well. But make it quick."

"Of course," Odysseus replied easily, taking one last glance at Adara. While Agamemnon was turned away, and he nodded once to her again.

The king was not back within the hour, nor did he return after two. By the time he stomped into the tent with heavy foot steps, it was completely dark outside. He stared at them, his face screaming anger and fury. He made a move towards the two, and Adara's heart leapt into action. But then he stopped and finally turned away, as if he was disgusted.

The king was still in a bad mood the following morning, but he walked right past them on his way out the tent to battle.

As soon as he left, Briseis practically jumped on Adara. "Who was that man last night? How did you know him?" She obviously didn't remember him from their first day.

Adara was jolted from her own thoughts of the previous night, and Briseis had to repeat her questions. "His name is Odysseus," she explained when she got her thoughts in order. "I think he is another king, but he was kind to me when I first arrived. I don't know what they discussed, but I think Odysseus detained Agamemnon for longer than he needed to."

"We have two people on our side then," Briseis said quietly. "Achilles will do whatever he can."

"Patroclus will as well," Adara added. She looked around and found the light blue cloth again, finding comfort in simply staring at it. Though Briseis couldn't see what Adara saw, she watched in interest as a look passed over her friend's face.

Still on the shorter side, but I promise most are longer! Anyway, reviews are some of my favorite things!