Chapter 13: The Growing Infatuation
Rough, dirty hands suddenly clasped around my throat and mouth, stifling my shout. A wisp of smoke was dragged into my lungs, my eyes watering and my lungs aching for clean air. A tangy, sour breath reeked heavily of old food and ale, seeping in through his grimy fingers and coming to my nose. I choked on his scent, begging for sanitary life support.
"Well, well, well, look what Trojan whore I've found?" He twisted my arms behind my back and three others appeared chuckling from the gloom. "Agamemnon has been waiting and he dislikes people who defy his orders." Easy retorts came to mind but the man barely allowed me to have an escaped breath. The scene around me of the dimming camp and the foggy air was growing dark as I blinked away pain from my mind, which was drenched in agony. They all grinned at me, their faces drowsy and heavily marked with the forces of bingeing at its works. They were big, burly men who cared nothing but their own pleasures, the warm air announcing the opportunity to undress with nothing more then a pair of trousers. They wore long hair in knots and quickly tied back, swords at sides and knives tucked into sandals holsters strapped around ankles.
"Come along now whore." He shoved me forward. He walked me down through the camp, sharp eyes and breaths of fire like a dragon pouring out of the men's mouths. They glared at me, threw punches at others and sulked with companions. My fading sight made the man bask in glory as he shoved me around, giving him the chance to trip me and pick me up with his hand clasped around my chest. I whined pain but he scoffed and continued on. The men following all held in getters of excitement, knowing the praise they would receive from Agamemnon for finally capturing me. We passed a well built, clean cut group of men and I swear amidst the fog and smoke I saw Odysseus lower his eyes in disappointment. The man led me to the giant ship that was the make shift palace of Agamemnon.
We easily dodged the disorder and turmoil of the half destroyed camp, tracing back the men's steps into the tent. The man lifted the flap and pushed me in. I fell to my ankles, coughing with relief when the man's warm sweaty skin peeled itself off mine. Cold eyes could be felt staring at me but I ignored them, the diatribe and actions of the men cutting deep into me. Gold and treasures surrounded me and, as if the King couldn't part with his wealth, littered the floor, the center of the room strewn with rugs that served as the walkway to the stout king on his throne. Gray curled hair rimmed with gold clasps fell over his shoulders, his leather armor and bulging gut in the state of rupture. He ate a leg of chicken, throwing it carelessly aside when the men ushered me in. The king eyed me as one of the village vagrants, nothing necessary of worthiness. His derisive stare made me look straight back at him, my own flippant looks and flick of a finger giving him the start of a fast and brutal compulsion of enragement. Agamemnon took a swig of his wine and then too laid that aside. He smiled deviously at me, the man who uncovered my mouth keeping a knife to my back.
"Well, look at how something that was stolen from me now returns." He waved his hand, the other three men standing guard outside the tent. He grinned at the triumphant men, standing up with a grunt and circling me. His fingers twined themselves around my hair. I snapped my head back, his breath and nose not yet reaching the locks. He arched an eyebrow. "Have more respect for your king, spy."
"You are no king of mine, and furthermore you men do a pitiful job of listening to orders." Agamemnon looked as of he didn't believe what he hard, so I continued. "I'm sure that orders were not to hurt me, well they have." Agamemnon examined my wrinkled gown, my knotted and wind slapped hair.
"Is that so?" He jostled the man's hand aside, whose face showed a feigned twinge of his lips as his upper lip lifted in a snarl at the king's actions. Agamemnon dropped the knife to the floor, instead replacing it with his own golden dagger. The man sulked in a corner, wishing to have more time to torture me. "Tell me, Aldreana, what the thing you promised me was?" he asked daringly and a hint of threat and risk to my life. He flashed the knife in my face, my eyes reflected off the shimmering gold and for him to see. I gave a contemptuous, spiteful glare, opening my mouth when a ringing of metal tore our heads to the door. There was a clash of swords and the sickening thud of a body, and then the outcry of another man as his flesh was pierced with a sword, the tearing and splashing of the blood making me wince. A grunt and another spray of blood against the wood floor allowed Patroclus admittance to the tent. He glowered at Agamemnon, agility mixing with grace as he stepped in front of the man, pointing the sword tip at the his throat.
"She goes free with no harm to her at all!" Patroclus ordered in a condescending, peremptory voice. Agamemnon's penetrating stare didn't falter Patroclus's motions, the sword coming closer. I felt my heart skip a beat, the guardian facing the arrogant king and me sending my heart into tremors. I breathed relief, Patroclus's eyes glinting with a smile at me. Agamemnon, however, still glared at Patroclus as he chuckled heartily, sardonically.
"Achilles sends his cousin to do his business. First the slave girl and now the spy?" His belligerent, merriment filled voice fell to deaf ears, the man all but smiling hideously. A sudden commotion and a group of armored men came sprawling into the tent. Patroclus swore under his breath and kept the men at bay with the swinging sword stopping them in their tracks. Patroclus's eyes frightened me, filled with the same intensity, craze and intensity that Achilles had each time a battle was ready to spring.
"She is of no consolation to you anymore. She doesn't serve you, nor does she serve Achilles." Agamemnon waved his hand, his eyes still staring with revulsion at the young man opposing him. The other guards lowered their swords, not swayed still by their king's orders. Patroclus waited until each weapon was put down before he sheathed his own. Agamemnon pushed the knife further into my back. Patroclus tensed and stepped closer.
"You like striking deals, do you not my lord?" he eyes were full of caution and he pursed his lips in clever consideration. I futilely aimed a confused look at him, which he dismissed with no emotion. Agamemnon painstaking thought on it. He circled the knife along my back, hitting the ridges of a scar and easily grazing over it with force that me my jump.
"Depends on the deal, such as the one your little woman here made," the king answered insolently with a hint of indifference in his tone. Patroclus knew he was losing the interest and quickly concocted other methods. "She promised me that Achilles would be under her power and that she could persuade him to come back to battle. It seems she has not fulfilled her duty." Patroclus gave me a quick look of disbelief. I lowered my eyes at his penetrating look. I could see out the corner of my eye his jaw clench with anger.
His hands grew to fists, pulsing with uncurled fingers then curled balls of flesh once more. Agamemnon placed the sharp dagger into my skin, breathing down my neck and slipping his fingers down my chest. He laughed in my ear, rubbing his face against mine and looking at Patroclus. "I see you have not heard her deal, she keeps so many secrets my boy. She promised me that she would win the key to Achilles' heart, that her sustenance would relive him and send him back into the impudent state of which wins me wars." Patroclus bit on his cheek, looking down at me out of the corner of his eye. "She promised me Achilles with the skills of a spy."
"No! Patroclus, no!" I cried above the king's voice. Patroclus diverted his eyes from me, falling into a trance of excruciating amount of pain. His eyes showed disbelief to Agamemnon's words. "Patroclus please do not believe him!"
"Ah, but it is true Aldreana. That means the inevitable to your friend here, doesn't it?" Agamemnon said in a guttural voice. He pushed the dagger further into my skin. Grabbing my face, he turned me to look at him. His eyes were pure evil. "Look at the boy." I remained immobilized. He pushed my head to face Patroclus, cracking my neck. "Do it!" he shouted. I lifted my eyes and met clear blue ones. "You love him, I can see it, and he loves you. But something is the matter, because Achilles is supposed to be saving you and instead, he has a slave girl, who promised me nothing. Now Aldreana tell this boy, that your love is a lie and that you went through him to get to Achilles." A pained expression was stamped on Patroclus's face, while tears welled in my eyes.
"Patroclus, please believe me, it was the only way to see you again, please believe me." Patroclus shook his head, averting his eyes and staring at the ground. His chest heaved up and down and I saw his arms tense as he clenched his fists, scowling at the ground. Agamemnon laughed in hilarity.
"You've been busy my lady," he scornfully and happily belittled me. My heart pounded, racing with a passion only felt once before in my life. I jabbed my shoulder up, catching his chin. He doubled back, letting go and throwing me aside. I clumsily fell into Patroclus's arms. He caught me and held me tight.
"Wretch!" I screamed at the moaning king. The dagger flashed and Agamemnon swung at me. Patroclus stepped me aside and grabbed the king's arm, holding it in the air. His eyes were like demons, staring at the other large man with intensity. Agamemnon stared at his clutched arm and dagger, trying to wriggle free from Patroclus's grasp. A slur of curses strolled out of the king's mouth.
"Mark my words boy, that bitch will pay for what she has done." With a flick of his hand Patroclus's twisted the king's wrist. Agamemnon shouted in pain and dropped the dagger. The gold beckoned to me and I instantly grabbed it, tucking it beneath my skirts. Viciously, Patroclus threw aside the King's arm, wrapping protective arms around me. Agamemnon clutched his jaw in one hand, cradling his wrist close to his chest. "I could have you killed right now, Aldreana too," he said raucously. Patroclus smiled cunningly.
"We have done nothing wrong, only answering to the king's behavior." He picked aimlessly at his nails, one hand still on the sword hilt. I looked up and stifled my chuckle. A fierce look from Patroclus made me remain silent. Patroclus tilted his head to the side, his mischievous eyes directed towards the king. "You want Achilles to fight, I'll get him to fight, and I give you my word as a soldier." My jaw dropped at Patroclus's words. I closed it shut, hiding my complaints. "On one condition." Agamemnon stopped his advancement on Patroclus and me. He eyed me while rubbing his throbbing chin, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "Aldreana is not to be harmed or harassed any longer." Agamemnon chortled softly to himself as he turned his back to us. Patroclus stepped in front of me, his arm shielding me from the king. "Do we have a deal?" Gray eyes spun back around a blaze of revulsion and hatred. A stubby, fat finger was pointed at Patroclus's throat, hostile and intimidating, though Patroclus flinched naught.
"I was weakened today boy. We fight tomorrow at dawn. When that sun rises and I move my men, Achilles better be with me, or it's your life I take."
"Patroclus no!" I shouted but Patroclus slammed his arm into me.
"Deal." Agamemnon smiled gruesomely. He looked over Patroclus's shoulder at me. I bitterly bared my teeth at him, ready to spit on the ground had Patroclus not been in my way. Ecstatic and giddy beyond belief, he easily adapted to his new found joy, turning his blazing anger into a brawling sense of injustice and reward only for a king as impudent as him.
"You have till tomorrow boy, and if not, it will seem Aldreana will be mine once more." The wave of his hand made Patroclus turn and leave. "Oh Aldreana, I'd like my dagger back now." I stopped in the doorway and tore out the dagger from my belt. The cool blade begged for me to stab his heart, but I carelessly threw it to the ground.
"I live to see you die," I pledged as I walked out into the cold night. Stars twinkled brightly as Patroclus's wrapped his cloak around me and walked me to the Myrmidons camp. A cold wind had settled, disrupting everything from its spot. Flags fluttered in the wind, tent flaps snapped wildly against the taunt fabric. Bon fires and chaos of the attack from the Trojans still filled the air. The dark eyes of men glared with enrage at Patroclus and me, watching us and following us with repugnance and disgust. They sat around the fires, warming themselves up and resolved in a dreamlike position, staring into the dances flames with a provocation in their eyes that made me cringe.
The smell of burned flesh and rotting corpses broke into the smoky sky, eating away at the beauty of the beach where we had sat today. The black tents blew in the wind, unaffected by the Trojans. My heart warped dubiously as I was pestered with the notion that Hector had protected my camp, when the calling of the Gods made me believe their guidance was with me. The conversation between Agamemnon and Patroclus bubbled within me till I could stand it no longer. He remained silent, his eyes still blazing with anger but his touch gentle, his fingers intertwined in mine. I felt sweltered by the words and suddenly flung Patroclus's hand off mine.
"How could you do that?" I screamed, watching heads behind Patroclus reel around to look at me. Patroclus gave a frivolous, sardonic laugh.
"And the same can't be said about you?" he asked.
"Why would you put your life to a king like that Patroclus, why!" Patroclus slammed his fist on a shield resting against a tent, the ringing echoing sharply in my ears.
"Do you not recall the fact that Achilles is the only leader I follow and that you did the same to see me again? You put your life in his hands to see me. I put my life on the lines to see that he doesn't rape and murder you in the night." I instantly lowered gaze, foolish of my actions. Patroclus snorted a contempt accusation and continued on, then stopped. "Aldreana--" I spun round on him, pointing a reproachful finger at him.
"I said that only to rid myself of him and to have a safe excuse of returning. How could you believe anything he said, you know that I wasn't using you to get to Achilles, you know that!"
"And you as very well know that I said that to save your life!" Patroclus shouted back. Patroclus's eyes were filled with the appearance of renegade, as if I as well as he had betrayed one another and Achilles.
"Then get yourself into a battle or two. I saw it in your eyes, the love you have for battle, and I saw the desire, crave for it, the will to give anything to fight along side Achilles by dawn tomorrow." I crossed my arms and gave a headstrong, proud look. Patroclus opened his mouth than shut it.
"The only love I have Aldreana, is the love for you." His voice was a whisper, thinking and mirroring the images of what was spoken before in Agamemnon's tent. "When I- I came out of Achilles' tent and found you gone, I was scared. I have never been afraid of battle, I probably never will be, but I was terrified at that second when you were not waiting for me. I panicked, thinking the Trojans had attacked you, killed you. One of the Myrmidons told me you were dragged off with a group of Agamemnon's men. I could have called for Achilles, but I didn't. I don't think I had been that frightened in my life before. My heart was churning and my stomach rolling in worry, but yes Aldreana, I was filled with a desire, with yearn. And that was the abhorrent disgust for Agamemnon. If he would have hurt you, I would have killed him."
My heart melted, the angry words fading in an instant. Tears welled in my eyes, though not seen glinting by the light of the fire merit the hood of my cloak. In a sob I fell in his arms, and he didn't flinch as before when I first met him, or move away because of Agamemnon's threats. He wrapped his arms around me, smoothing my hair and drying my face. "Don't cry," he whispered. I sniffled, flushing at my sudden alleged sadness. "Aldreana, I will protect you always."
"I know," I breathed. "I just want to know that this isn't a trick, that you actually feel what you say."
He smiled at me, the grin taking his whole face. He leaned towards me, whispering in my ear, "If this be a spell of yours, let it not end." His lush lips touched mine and in a quick kiss we turned and walked briskly back to the tent. They stared at us still and when I looked over my shoulder a pang of jealously washed through each and every man. They looked away quickly, sinking back into the despair of the fire. The silence was soothing, filling in the words that were not spoken. Eudorus nodded to us as we passed, glancing back once before slipping into his tent.
Patroclus ushered me into his tent, the makeshift bed disturbed as we fell in a rush of kisses and grasps. I untied the cloak as he kissed my neck, making me shiver in a wild spasm. He chuckled softly at my prickling skin, moving back to my lips. The kisses grew deeper, the rush of them barely even registering in my mind before they happened. Patroclus took out his sudden passion with the sword on me, kissing me hard and long, and the feeling indescribable. I felt his hands travel down my back, past the stinging sensation that Agamemnon's dagger created.
I moaned softly from where his hands were placed, his fingers massaging the skin lightly. I whispered his name and he looked down at me, imploring for the call. His eyes were filled with lust, the blue twinkling brightly. I smiled, catching my breath before bringing his face down on mine, intertwining my fingers through his silky hair. He pulled back suddenly, looking me in the eye. "What?" I asked. He smiled and rolled over, taking me with him so I laid my head on his chest.
"Agamemnon's words didn't surprise me you know." As he spoke I began unbuttoning the laces of his tunic, slowly taking the shirt off. Likewise the sleeves of my gown were wrinkled and absurdly twisted around my arms, exposing the beginning of my breasts. I hummed my answer. "Aldreana, you're a spy. Somehow I realized that after everything that had happened, the possibilities of you making it back into the camp without Agamemnon's permission was ridiculous." I smiled. "Only you would be so clever to think of such a lie."
"Oh and what about you?" I raised my head, sitting up with Patroclus, his arms around me. "How will you get Achilles to fight tomorrow?" Patroclus cocked a quirk eyebrow up at me.
"Hector attacked us, he is Achilles' worst enemy, and he is probably one of the only reasons why my cousin even came here. Hector, the famous horse tamer and the leader of the invincible Trojans troops." I scoffed at the exaggerations, Patroclus grinned. "When I walked into the tent he already had his mind made up. The Myrmidons fight at dawn," he said it so bluntly, so plainly it took me moments to realize what he meant.
"That means you fight at dawn tomorrow," I answered, curtly, huskily. Patroclus's face grew solemn, grave almost. Finally acceding to my words he nodded. I gasped softly but he cut me off.
"Don't worry Aldreana please." Unconvinced, he kissed my lips. "Tomorrow morning when you wake, I will return, I promise you that." He stroked my hair, his hand loitering on my cheek. "You're so beautiful," he whispered aloud, making me blush horribly. "Aldreana, I want you to know, that I would never have pestered Achilles this much had it not been for you."
"So you want to show off?" I asked in a playful tone, much different from the doleful expression from before. He laughed softly, looking back into my hazel eyes and rubbing my marble smooth skin.
"No, I think I have finally learned the meaning of war. Luckily, I have what is needed most in times of hatred." He kissed me softly as fatigue began to rush into us both, but I became more zealous, rolling him unto his back and staring down at him and his bare chest. My breath caught at the handsome face, wondrous eyes, sculpted body. I drew myself to him, lying down on his chest with the warmth of his body to protect me. Patroclus cradled me, holding onto me even when I fell asleep, his head nestled in mine.
Patroclus roused suddenly. He glanced down, finding the pitiful blanket halfway off his chest. He quickly threw it off and rolled to his side, where Aldreana spelt soundly. Her face was beautiful, a ray of moonlight seeping in from the hole in the ceiling and magnifying her face. Her red lips puckered with kisses beckoning to him, but Patroclus ignored them as he slowly and sneakily sat up and grabbed his cloak. Aldreana shifted, humming in her sleep as she rolled over onto her side, her face half hidden by her arms. A wisp of brown hair fell into her face. Patroclus brushed it away, mesmerized by her loveliness.
Sighing, he quickly walked out the tent, ducking when a Myrmidon groggily stalked into his. The ambers of the fire were glowing, the last of the sparks flying up into the air in a breathless float. Patroclus slinked his way in the shadows, in between the tents, coming to Achilles'. He effortlessly opened the flap, peering in. His cousin was naked, wrapped around the waist in a dark blanket. A woman, dark haired and faired skin with bruises down her face was lying on him, her shaped body only half concealed by the thick black cloth. Patroclus blinked, her prettiness amazing him. The mystery of the happenings of the girl, the cuts on her face and the love that Achilles had for her was just as much a puzzle as Aldreana herself.
The moonlight tore him back to his plan, the deal with Agamemnon. Black leather armor glittered in the glow, the beam from the moon resting on the whining armor. Patroclus's fingers itched and carefully he stepped lightly over his cousin's ankle, in-between the girl's legs, coming face to face with the armor. Aldreana's face was launched back into his mind, the same love for war and weapons telling him to take it. The infuriated face of Achilles, punishing him for his actions rushed in to him too. And then Hector, his stare, his undying love, affection for Aldreana flooded into his mind, drowning him in jealously.
Patroclus greedily picked up the armor from the post, tucking it under his arm as he grabbed Achilles' sword, the heavy metal summoning for him to release it, use and strike upon the enemy. Patroclus glanced once more at Achilles, the older man's face masked with a troubled look. With the same extremity and evasively slink and sneak, he made his way out of the tent, closing the flap from the warm air conducted inside. He breathed a sigh of relief and staggered back to his own tent. A rustle made him spin around, hand on sword hilt. Up in the hills, a small flame could be seen, the torch bright with exhilaration. Patroclus squinted, making out the dark, vexed eyes, the locks of dark curls.
He lingered in the spot in the open, stubbornly staring at the Prince of Troy before turning and strutting back into the tent. Aldreana had not moved, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Patroclus hid the armor and sword under an extra blanket, settling back into the tent. As dawn soon approached his heart bounced up and down with acceleration, the quickening pace making Patroclus stir uneasily. Aldreana's soft touch as she shivered and drew to his body made him relax. He kissed her forehead softly.
"I promise Aldreana."