Hector's POV

Two months passed since my daughter's wedding and she and her husband were still no closer in making a decision. They argued the same points every second night and by the end of the second month, they became more and more frustrated with each other. Their arguments seemed more violent than a battle of swords and spears.

I was relieved when I realised that their argument soon would not matter: Troy was winning every battle, decimating the Greek forces, and it seemed as if the war would be over in another month's time.

When the Greeks' morale had fallen to a spectacular low, the war council convened. I had to follow the orders and attack the Greeks while they were weak. Once the balls of burning hay had done their job, I came into their territory with my men. The fight started while the sun was slowly rising, and it looked like victory was finally ours, but then the Greeks started cheering, as if they were being supported by the Gods themselves.

I turned to see Achilles and his Myrmidons coming towards us, and my blood boiled. His words on their wedding night and their vicious arguments now had a clearer meaning; he planned to kill me after finding his way into Troy and marrying my daughter all along! He had made his way into my daughter's heart like a snake to take Troy from the inside, all for the sake of glory.

Well, I would kill him before he does me…

I fought to get to him and when he and I were standing in front of each other, both our armies were silenced. He seemed a little too impatient to kill me, taking great risks with his sword, but all I could think about was that I could not let him win. He had to be stopped.

And then I had him. His neck sliced open, a gurgling sound came from his throat and he fell. I had killed Achilles…or at least I thought I had.

Once the helmet was off, I realised my grave mistake. Could this boy be his brother? I looked up at the sky in despair, praying for my own soul, and for the boy's. I knew it was my duty to put the poor creature out of his misery.

After I ordered my men back to Troy, King Odysseus came beside me and informed me that the dead boy was Achilles' cousin…

Arli's POV

When I awoke, black smoke filled the horizon and I knew another battle had been fought while I had been asleep, but I felt in my heart that something was wrong. Still in my nightgown, I ran to Hector's room, only to find Andromache with her son, pacing the room.

I ran out of there before Andromache could say anything and made my way to the palace entrance. He was there, walking up the stairs, heading towards me. I could see fresh blood on his armour, and I immediately felt it was of someone I knew.

"Hector, whose blood covers your breastplate?"

"Arli..."

"Answer me, Father!" I yelled.

"It is the blood of your husband's cousin."

"Oh, not Patroclus!" I cried, sinking to the marble ground.

Hector lifted me up under my arm and brought me in close to him. "I thought he was Achilles trying to attack me. I thought he went back on his word. I only knew when it was too late, Arli, I swear."

"I do not know what he will do!" I said, walking back with Hector to my room.

"Do not go to see him tonight; he'll be blind with rage and grieving. I do not want him to see you as an object for revenge."

"Then I will not," I promised, opening the door to my room.

Hector kissed my forehead. "My daughter…I love you."

"As do I, Father," I replied before he left me.

But, as the hours passed, I longed to see him! I was desperate to comfort him and tell him how it was all a mistake. The long afternoon turned into evening and I continued to refuse food and anyone to see me. I only stood out on the terrace, watching as pyres were lit in the distance and knowing that one of them was for Patroclus.

After hours of forcing myself to stay awake, I feel asleep, only to be awoken in fright after hearing a noise on the terrace. I sat up to see Achilles sitting on the marble step in my room that leads to the terrace. As he saw me rise, he did also and came over to sit beside me on my bed.

"Achilles…" I said, taking his hand and kissing it.

"How are you, wife?" He asked, his voice oddly cold.

I shook my head. "Never mind about me, my love, it is you that I want to know about!"

"Why have you not been to visit me? I waited patiently for you to come to me," he said, ignoring my previous words.

"Hector advised me not to. He thought that if I went to you, you would be blinded by rage."

There was a smirk in his voice as he continued. "Why would I hurt my wife? Could it be because her father murdered my beloved cousin?"

"Achilles, he thought it was you going back on your word! He could not distinguish between you and Patroclus underneath all your armour. He feels so horrible abou—"

"I do not care what he feels!" Achilles yelled, but not loud enough to wake anybody. "Hector must pay!"

"Patroclus acted foolishly!" I yelled back. "He donned your armour, thinking the delusional thought that he could beat Hector, and pretended to be you. What else could my father believe?"

"He did not even trust me enough to believe it was not me!"

"It was a tragic accident, my love," I said, bringing him into my arms. "If he could take it back, he would."

Achilles pushed me back onto the bed. "No, Arlina! A life for a life; Patroclus must be avenged."

I tried holding him again, but he pushed me away. "It does not have to be this way!"

"Yes, it does!" He said finally, walking out to the terrace. "Tell your father I will see him tomorrow."

Before I could respond, he slid down a column and was gone.