A/n: hiya, I don't even know if anyone is reading this anymore, it has been like 3 years lol. Anyway I'll update anyway. If anyones there then I would appreciate if you reviewed =) many thanks!

The Beautiful Secret of Troy

They made their way slowly back to the campsite.

Slowly and silently.

Patroclus watched her as she gazed around her with a saddened look in her eyes. He could tell that she was absorbing the surroundings, her home land. When she breathed in she was tasting the air, smelling the familiar scents that she had grown up with. He could tell this because Achilles done it before they left Greece. It only heightened the respect he had for her. She was a patriot, like himself, like Achilles, like any noble Greek soldier. She closed her eyes, breathed in deep through her nose, and stopped walking, lifting her face to the sky. The sunlight danced on her damp hair and golden skin. He did not realise that he was standing so close to her, his mouth slightly open, in awe of how beautiful and ethereal she looked in the morning sun. She opened her eyes and brought her gaze back to him.

He was still staring at her, dumbstruck. She smiled, confused at him.

"Patroclus?..."

He snapped back to life and blushed.

"Are you okay?" She giggled

"yes, I'm fine. Just got caught... off guard... what were you doing?" he asked trying to take the pressure of himself. He wished he hadn't though, her sad look came back and she looked towards the ground. He inwardly cursed himself, he was an idiot sometimes.

"Melena?"

"oh... it's nothing really, just that..." She trailed off and sighed, hoping he would leave it. He didn't of course.

"just that?"

"just that, because of some girl, some stupid pretty girl, this entire land is going to be ripped apart by war! Why is it that women are always pawns in mens games? why do innocent people, innocent lands have to suffer because of mens ill choices. My country will be destroyed!" She kicked the sand and fell onto her knees .

"why do men never learn?..." She huffed and folded her arms. Patroclus regarded her and smiled. She looked like a petulant child who had just been told no. She was adorable. She was as innocent as a child. He knelt down next to her and folded his arms, raising his eyebrows. She glanced at him and anger clouded her angelic face.

"oh, and of course, its all a joke to you, you're as bad as the rest of them!" she started to get to her feet muttering about men but he pulled her back down.

"Melena, you know that I will take you seriously, you just looked like a child when you were annoyed. That is all." He laughed but the sad look was back on her face. "tell me,what can I do to make you feel better?"

She thought long and hard, then looked directly into his eyes and said:

"convince Achilles to return to Greece with the Myrmidons."

"you know that is not possible Melena." He ran his hands through his hair and shook his head "no one can convince him, not even me. He takes orders from nobody-"

"You might save many lives if you only tried! You are his cousin and most likely to-"

"You think that even if the Myrmidons go home, your kinsmen are safe? Agamemnon will still tear through your country and burn it to the ground! If we were to leave then you would be killed! You and Briseis!"

"she might already be-" she burst into tears. He sighed and put his arms around her, breathing in her scent and secretly liking the fact that she thought he was brave enough to convince Achilles against his plans. She coughed slightly and began talking very quietly.

"if your men were to go home then you wouldn't be killed either."

"me? I won't be killed," he frowned "I've been trained by the greatest warrior in all Greece!"

"you are not immortal, Patroclus." She looked up at him through his bulging muscles "neither is Achilles."

He let go of her quickly and stood up. She screwed up her face in frustration and said his name.

"This conversation never happened Melena, you won't repeat it to anyone. But I will say this," he looked directly into her eyes, trying to make her understand. "it is a man's duty to fight and die to protect not only his country but his pride. Your Prince spat upon Menelaus' pride, his honour when he took his Queen from him after his hospitality. Your King would do the same as we have done. Women are not pawns in a game unless they make it happen by themselves. Helen has done this. She chose to be a pawn. It is her fault that we are here, perhaps it is her who is playing the game. Perhaps, in this case, it is the men who are the pawns."

He put his hand out to pull her to her feet. She took it and gripped his hand. He started to walk but she did not let go of his hand and didn't start to walk. He looked back at her and she said, with a face more serious than he had ever seen:

"Promise me one thing... promise me you won't get killed in any war... you deserve better than that."

As his stomach began to flutter and his heart started to pound, he nodded his head.

"I promise you."

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A/n: so theres a chapter, let me know what you thinks =)