A/n: Soo I'm back for another chapter =) by the way, I've decided that Patroclus is 18 and Alena/Melena is 16. If anyone has a problem with that then I can change it. I just think those are good ages to go with, hormonal and all that.

The Beautiful Secret of Troy

When they reached the campsite, an uncomfortable silence had fallen between them. He was uncomfortable because, even though he had no obligation to this servant girl, he knew that his promise could not be kept. If he was called to fight then he would obviously fight and death was a likely risk. No matter how well trained he had been, she was entirely right. He was not immortal. He severely hoped that Achilles had taught him well. He was not ready to die. He was only young, 18 years old. He had not married; he had no great achievements other than being related to a warrior loved by the Gods. If he were to die, how would he be remembered?

Alena was uncomfortable because she had made a man she hardly knew promise her that he wouldn't die. Not because he was better than death like she had said, such vanity would have the Gods strike both of them down. No, the reason she made him promise is because she seen so much good in him. He could have raped her then killed her and no one would have batted an eyelid. But he didn't. He put up with her impertinent strops, her attempts at humiliating him and still, he was lenient and, well, good to her. It was about noon when they got to the tent. He told her to go inside while he went and found them food. She nodded her obedience and ducked into the tent, avoiding his eyes.

He set off towards the store and got some fruit and wine and bread. He would have to try and persuade Melena to tell him where the good places were to hunt... but then it might still be too early to ask her if he could hunt her own country's beasts. He would eat another soldier soon if he didn't get meat. A man couldn't live on fruit forever. He had a rummage in some other stores when he heard some soldiers talking outside.

"...Yes, seen it myself. Achilles went wandering round the campsite. Said something about wanting to see the size of his army against Agamemnon's then laugh at the pitiful strengths it has against his own. He's getting a bit big headed for his own good I think. One day he'll be brought right back down to his own level and realise what he has compromised in return for his vanity..."

Patroclus smiled to himself. They didn't have a clue about his cousin but this also meant that he could spend the afternoon relaxing and trying to suss out Melena.

When he returned to the tent, she was combing her hair with his comb and day dreaming. He smiled before clearing his throat. She jumped and quickly put the comb down.

"I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind, I just needed to and- and you were gone for so long- I just thought-"

"Calm down, calm down, you're more than welcome to use my comb, you are a girl, you have hair and you have nothing of your own. You are allowed to use my things." He smiled warmly at her then set the fruit down in front of her, also sitting himself cross legged in front of her. They began to eat the food shyly, accidently catching each others eyes and quickly glancing away, holding a secret smile. He ate half of the plateful then gulped down some wine then leaned back against a pile of furs, closing his eyes, feeling completely satisfied. Apart from the no meat situation. He was dreaming about some lean meat when Melena spoke quietly,

"Patroclus, tell me about your life."

"My life?" He muttered, a quizzical look creasing his features.

"yes, your family, your childhood, being the great Achilles cousin. I want to know." She smiled and leaned forward expectantly.

He smiled and sat up, leaning towards her as if they were sharing a secret.

"My life doesn't have much to it I'm afraid. My parents died when I was young, I was brought up mainly by Achilles and my entire childhood and adult life has been spent aspiring to be exactly like him. Thus my life so far."

She frowned and pouted her rosebud lips, "so you've never wanted more than to be Achilles?"

"Pretty much." He smiled "your turn."

"My turn?" She echoed, paling slightly. Luckily he didn't notice.

"Tell me things about your life." He grinned cheekily.

"very well," she whispered, quickly gathering her thoughts. "I'm afraid my life is much less exciting than yours. I grew up in the palace, my parents both worked there. My mother died when I was young. My father still lives... well I'm not sure since your arrival. But I hope so. My entire life has been planned for me. I'm expected to marry and get good links for my family, regardless of who the person is. And that is it."

Patroclus had sat up very straight and a very serious look had clouded his face.

"Are you promised to someone?"

"Promised to someone? Oh no, not yet and I highly doubt that my father ever expects me to be promised to anyone, he probably believes me dead."

"oh... oh well." His feature softened again as he took another slurp "do you ever expect to be promised to anyone?" He hoped he sounded offhand. He glanced up at her and seen her frown.

"It depends on whether you let me live. In fact, it depends on whether you let me leave." She said firmly. He folded his arms and smirked at her.

"You know that you can't leave and I hope you know that I do not plan on killing you. Not unless you do something which leaves me no other option. Do you not think that you could marry a Greek?" He asked, genuinely interested in the answer.

"Marry a Greek..." she looked wonderful when she was thinking about serious matters. " Do you believe a Greek would marry a Trojan after this war?"

"Do I believe that a- well I don't- wait a minute, I asked you first! You have to answer first!" he laughed.

"No I don't! I asked you, you have to answer, what were you going to say?" she smiled and playfully pushed him.

"Oh I am not answering till you do!" He grinned cheekily.

"You'll be waiting a long time then." She smirked and the butterflies that had tickled his stomach earlier came back.

"I'll just make you answer then!" he jumped onto her and started tickling her. She started laughing and tried to fight him off but it just ended up with both of them roaring with laughter and rolling about the floor.

Eventually she pinned him to the ground, her legs straddled across him, sitting on his strong abdomen, her face inches from his, both of them breathless and giggling. The laughter faded away when their eyes met and then they were just breathless, staring deep into each others eyes, in their own world where they were just two teenagers, having fun.

"PATROCLUS! ACHILLES WANTS YOU!"

The deep roar brought them back to reality and they broke their gaze. They smiled and she rolled off him. He was barely able to conceal how excited he had gotten. He pulled his hands through his hair then got to his feet, heading towards the exit. He stopped and glanced back at Melena who was drinking some wine.

"Do me a favour and don't leave the tent. I'll be back soon."

She nodded and smiled. He smiled back and went out into the sun. It was becoming very very clear to him why he had made a promise with her. Very clear indeed.