Chapter 18- An Undying Love
The sun hovered brightly in the sky, bearing its heavenly glow onto my face through the balcony of my quarters. I slowly opened my eyes, the haunting memories of the day before suddenly flashing into my head. I jumped with a start, quivering as I pictured the crimson flowing from his lush body. A teary voice could be heard from behind my door, rustling with another strong gait.
"My lady, perhaps you need more rest?" the tender voice acquired. I blinked, realizing that Iason stood before my doorway. Another figure shuffled its weight from one foot to the next, the wooden planks creaking with the shifted weight. "I will not leave you alone Briseis," Iason insisted. I knew that quarreling voice as the one who had fallen in love with the priestess. He had always loved Briseis, but accepted her view of the Gods and her choice of the Virgin Rose, though his heart still withered and twisted at the loss.
I quickly got out of bed, grabbing the light blue colored robe and throwing it over my shoulders, trying to make myself look awake. I stepped in front of my mirror and was gingerly brushing my hair when Briseis entered. She gave me a sad smile, coming to stand next to me. In the doorway, Iason gave me a weary glance, looking down at Briseis and back at me with caring eyes. Then he briskly shut the door silently behind him. Briseis took one look at me and frowned.
"You have just woken?" she asked. I nodded, offering my chair in front of the mirror, of which the young woman seemed glad to accept. I grabbed a simple perfume given to me as a gift by Hector, splashing just a little into the maiden's soft and wavy brown hair. I diverted my eyes to the floor, repeating the tradition of the common slave that I was. I looked up to the mirror and into her face. Her big almond eyes were full of tears and she suddenly whirled around, forcing her hands into my clenched fists. I allowed her to rest her head on my chest, where she began sobbing with heavy sighs and tears that flowed freely.
"Why? Why him? I am a priestess, a princess of Troy. He is an arrogant, devious and contempt man who loves nothing but war. And yet I saw him weaken when he spoke to me. When he held me he crumbled and I held him up. When he breathed a kiss to me he shattered and the weight of years of sorrow tumbled to me. He is Achilles, the famous Greek whose lust is death. I chose him, I defied everything I learned and chose him. Iason could be blessing me with the love of ages, and yet I chose Achilles. I love him so much," Briseis freed her soul. Unable to come back into the life she so sorely left behind. "And now, I will never see him again."
Tears came to my own eyes but with a single swipe of my knuckles I sent them back into the dark abyss of my heart. I had to be strong, peremptory. I had to hold up Briseis, while my own heart wilted like a dying lily in the waters of Egypt. I had to give all I had to make sure she was all right. It was a pestilence. This war was a plague. And here I stood, in the middle of it, with no one to consol me. My only love that sprung from my own untruthful hate was gone with the setting sun. And my lord had died with the east, sentenced to an eternity with Hades. Briseis rose back to her straight-backed self, taking on the posture of true royalty. Wiping her tears that ran down her cheeks, she looked at me with her wide eyes.
"And you, Aldreana, were granted the freedom to leave this place, to leave Troy? A dream you thought would never be within the reaches of your fingertips. Why do you remain? You could be halfway to Greece by now and yet you remain?"
I stood up hotly, shoving the brush back on the dresser and stalking to the wardrobe. I picked through the small attire of clothing, finally coming to a plain light blue gown that was the softest of wool and the pale green chiton that it seemed I had stolen years before. Setting them both on the bed, I waited for Briseis to occupy herself on my balcony before stripping down to my feet and getting dressed. Briseis idly looked at Patroclus's sword, which leaned on the edge of the wall. It blazed with magnificent glory with the sun's rays beaming on it. Briseis gave a dubious look to the sword and then out into the city, her eyes falling to the disarranged temple ransacked by Achilles' men.
I announced that I as dressed by closing the door shut with an angry slam. Briseis blinked and turned around. Her eyes were round and she looked at me with imploring eyes. My own bright green ones dulled by the every presence of death, which stank of evil, countered hers and made her turn away. Her hand fluttered up to her neck, to where I found the shimmering and polished shells. She followed my eyes and then laconically swallowed her tears. Untying the necklace, she grabbed my hand and folded my fingers around the smooth shells of the necklace.
"It was Patroclus', so it should be yours," she said meekly. I stared down at the necklace, finally shaking my head and handing it back to her. I motioned to the sword.
"I have all I need of him," I answered. "Besides, it was a gift from Achilles, not Patroclus." Briseis smiled briefly before letting grief settling over her broken heart once more. She sat down on the stool before my mirror, picking at the idle objects I had placed on the dresser.
"I just can't believe they are gone. The two most important men of my life, and both are now torn from my heart as if it were nothing more than a feast for the Gods to ravage on. It is as if my prayers do not matter to them anymore. I thought that they were angry with me, but Achilles taught me differently, saying that it didn't matter where you were, what you did, because the Gods…" she shook her head, wishing to be rid of such memories. She looked around, noticing my empty scabbard. "You're missing your dagger." She tried to assuage the moment by changing the subject. I let her.
"I know. I believe, with the most heavy of hearts-"
"What do you need?" Iason's voice was loud, clearly raised in volume so we could hear. There was the clicking of Iason's armor against the metal bolts in the door, a hint of the other soldier facing him.
"King Priam requests that the wench comes to his presence at once!" Briseis and I both froze and when I looked out of the corner of my eye I saw that her eyes were blazing with fury. She quickly got to her feet, sauntering towards the door. I grabbed her arm, putting a finger to her lips when she wanted to protest. I stepped in front of her and headed for the door.
"Did you hear what he called you?" Briseis whispered after me. I turned and gave her a wicked smile and at the last second went back for Patroclus' sword, which seemed to never leave my side now. A sudden flash of flame shot into my eyes, along with the scream of pain as he struggled to free himself from the bonds that held his arms behind his back. I stumbled, my mind blackening with the nightmare. Briseis caught me, sweeping me back to my feet. I shook her off and walked to the door.
"Stay here, Iason will probably remain with you," I commanded of Briseis. The likelihood of her listening was slime, but I felt that my strength was ebbing away with this sudden spasm of visions. I had to remain strong. Briseis nodded and let go of my hand. I walked to the door and firmly grabbed hold of the handle, opening the door briskly. The man was sharp jawed, with dark eyes and scars running down both of his cheeks. I reflected his hidden grin with my own laughing eyes. Iason looked at me, moving his hand away from his sword. The other soldier nodded his leave to Iason, who glared at him profoundly. Then the man snatched my hand and led me down the hall. I scrapped my nail against his skin with my free hand, cutting deeply into his flesh. He grimaced slightly and waited till Iason was out of earshot to slam me again the wall and slap me hard against the face. I winced, blinking stars when I looked into his greedy face.
"Well, I haven't had a beaten in sometime Sinis, and now I think I know why I didn't miss it. Though this slapping business is getting a little old, don't you think?" The man smiled with a brutish grin and slapped me again. Then he crept close to my face, leaning into my chest. He breathed slowly into me, while I gagged above him. Then he lifted his face to my ear, his lips grazing my skin. I flinched, grossed by his sensual ways.
"Nothing is too old for you Aldreana…" he whispered into my ear. I shoved my hand into the back of his head, grabbing his hair and moving out of the way just in time, slamming his face against the stone. He hollered and let me go, grabbing his smashed face. I heard him snap something back into place as I ran down the hall back toward Iason. However, when I turned the corner, he was gone. My hope vanished and I began to pull my sword by its scabbard when a sharp point came behind him, scratching against the healing sore from days before.
Sinis slammed me back against the wall and looked down each end of the hall before lowering his hand against my body. I felt his fingers slowly lift my dress and then his cold hand was on my bear legs, moving slowly upward. I squirmed under him, but that only caused him to crush his fingers further into my skin. His hand in between my legs, I felt his fingers tease the skin beneath. A groan passed my lips and he gave a broad smile.
"You like that, don't you?" he asked plainly, as if we were sharing a passionate love from years before. I snarled a growl, shoving his hand away. He placed the warm fingers on my arm, slowly winding his way to my breast. "Just give in," he whispered. I refused. I laughed and than spit in his face. Sinis backed away, at the last second bashing his pelvis into my hips. I cried as my back hit the hard stone, while he wiped his face and then positioned himself against me. I felt him becoming more lustful underneath the leather armor, and he expressed it fully by pressing his body along mine, giving a grunt as he grinded his body against mine. I slapped his face in return, to which he pulled a dagger and placed it on my throat.
"Don't toy with me Aldreana," he threatened. "You're just as sly as your father." I smiled a devious smile. I decided to play by his rules and ran my fingers down his back. He gave a long moan and allowed me to take hold of the dagger with my other hand. He replaced his hand to my breast, roughly stroking it back and forth with his grimy fingers.
"Oh I know Sinis, it runs in the family I guess," I replied with a sly voice. Sinis lifted his face, unable to feel the cold metal against his back with all the other feelings aroused in him. I placed the dagger to the back of his neck, but he didn't move a muscle. A shifting figure came out of the corner of my eye and two soldiers, accompanied by Iason, came softly up behind him, their leather sandals barely treading the smooth floor. I looked away, keeping my mind on distracting Sinis long enough to get the truth. Sinis gave his life away himself.
"I always thought that Hector was a horrible leader. But thanks to your little escape, I don't have to be a part of his pitiful army anymore." Iason gave me a serious look, his eyes bulging. I nodded my head. "When your father first wanted you to kill Priam and his sons, I thought he was joking, a stupid girl like you couldn't commit murder. But with that dagger on my back, I see that you can." He shoved his body closer into me, lifting up his armor. I shriveled with disgust, hoping beyond hope that Iason would make his move. Iason pulled forth his blade. Sinis's voice grew louder when he spoke. "But killing the king and his sons was the best idea your father created," he stated and threw back his head with a laugh.
Then a gurgled yelp escaped his lips. I let go of the dagger and ran into the closest soldier, who grabbed me roughly and set me to the ground. Iason wore a face of anguish, yet held no regret to his action. He stiffly yanked his sword out, though not without a crack of bones. Looking down at me, he gave me an absurd look, making me cringe at him. So many secrets were pulled out right then. Iason, though, remained totally expressionless, both towards the man lying dead and his feelings towards me. He remained indifferent as he offered his hand, to which I accepted.
"Are you alright?" he asked in a soft whisper. I brushed the tears that I was suddenly ashamed of, nodded somberly. Iason nodded and rose to his feet, wiping his sword on the end of his cloak. A sudden scamper of footsteps made us all whirl around. Priam and Paris joined Briseis, all stopping in an abrupt halt.
"What is going on?" Priam asked with a commanding, yet somnolent voice. Paris, however, seemed to want to boast his new found title and came, yanking my arm and thrusting it behind my back.
"This is your doing, isn't it Aldreana, what man did you murder this time?" I bared his teeth at him. Briseis tried in quiet whispers to calm her cousin down, but Paris' eyes were stuck on me. "Don't try to hid the past of the famous spy, it started with this act of treason. Where is your father Aldreana?"
"Dead and six feet in the ground, haunted by my family in Hades where he lays with the undead, never to pass the River Styx in a fiery hell!" I shouted back. Paris, to my amazement, laughed out loud with deprecating mocking tone.
"And now that Greek you love lays with him in that hell!" Paris countered back with. My temper flared and with it my willpower to kill. I pulled my sword out as Priam scolded Paris.
"Paris, you know nothing-"
"May your soul be dammed for all time Paris, for this is entirely your fault and now your brother stands with Patroclus and my father!" I pointed the sword into the air, the sunlight from the window carrying a deep shine within the blade, all the way to the tip as it rang loudly in the air. The two soldiers pulled out their own weapons, while Iason tried to stop them, but to no avail. Paris nocked an arrow to his bow that was strapped to his back. Priam stepped in front of him.
"Paris, don't!" Priam warned, giving me his own heavy stare. I slowly lowered my weapon, feeling Iason's muscular hand leading the way. Paris pushed past his father, making his way towards me. Iason stepped in front to guard me.
"Father she is-"
"Do not judge her by her actions of the past Paris!" The loud thundering voice that exploded from Priam's voice sent us all into silence. "Without her aid, we would not be able to bury Hector tonight and you would never have brought Helen aboard that ship." Paris stopped in his tracks, spinning around with a look of loss in his eyes. But Priam held the truth, something even Paris couldn't bear. Paris looked back at me and with one long headstrong glare I finally bowed my head. I watched his tense and poised body soften and then with a lingering feeling he pointed a finger at me.
"You're the betrayer," he scorned. I felt my body crumble and I wobbled. Iason caught me and set me upright, though my knees still fell violently. Briseis skipped over to me, putting her arms around me and holding me up. The glare she gave Paris sent the young prince away, his blue cloak flashing behind him and licking the corner of the wall as he sharply turned down the hall. Priam, with a single wave of his hand, he sent the two guards away. Iason let go of my arm, and began walking away.
"Soldier, remain." Iason stepped back next to me, keeping his head high, with his hands folded in front of him. Briseis looked blankly at Priam, a look of dread covering her face. Priam saw the look and calmly broke her hands from me. "Fear nothing, Aldreana has nothing to hide or run from, especially not from me." He then looked up to me and continued. "You have helped me in the greatest way possible." He looked beyond us to the man who lay dead on the floor. "Now tell me, who was this man?" Iason opened his mouth, but I cut him off. Taking a deep breath, I spoke out loud for myself.
"He was a man of my father's, set in the plan of killing you and your sons when the plot aroused close to six years ago." Priam nodded, his wide blue eyes of the clearest crystal piercing into me. "His name was Sinis. Do not be deceived my lord, for I no not how many more of my father's assassins still live. I pray he is the last," I spoke with a disdainful voice, bowing my head in honor for the king.
"As do I." Priam allowed me to look up. Then he stared up at Iason with imploring eyes. "And you, loyal soldier, what is your name?"
"Iason my lord, son of Belen," Iason replied in haste. Priam gave a considering look.
"I remember your father, a good courageous man. You should be very proud of him." Priam held out his hand, to which Iason gratefully shook.
"I am my lord." Iason looked back at the body of Sinis. "That man tried to…tried to rape Aldreana my lord. When Briseis told me of that I only came to protect her. I had no idea of his real identity till he spoke out loud of what he had done." Priam looked down at me. Iason noticed the look of pride in my eyes. "It seems she knew just what to do to make him talk."
"So it would seem. Iason, though of your great deed, which of course you will be rewarded for, I must ask you to please clean this mess up. I don't want a rumor and riot to start." Iason nodded.
"Of course my lord, but I need no reward, I'm honored by just being able to stay in the palace." He looked to Briseis and gave a loving grin. "And protecting the Lady Briseis is what I want to do more than anything in the world." The look Briseis gave Iason shocked me, for it was a look of returned affection. I understood that Briseis was still caught in ruined affections of Achilles, but truly she had not changed her mind that quickly. Priam dismissed himself and Briseis with him, a slight blush coming to her cheeks when she gave a meek farewell to Iason. I slowly turned around, looking Iason straight in the face. Iason was trying to hide his face behind brown curls. I gave him a peevish look and he in return started back towards the Sinis.
"You still love her, don't you?" I tried to begin a conversation. Iason stiffened and then gave a weak smile, tough his face was serious as he stood straight back up and locked eyes with me.
"I will always love her Aldreana, even if Achilles has her heart."