PenName: Dysis Nyx

Author's Note: So, here is the fourth chapter. I love cliffhangers, despite this isn't much of a cliffhanger ending. I really hope you enjoy this, then again, you wouldn't be reading it if you didn't, right?

Disclaimer: I do not…blah, blah, blah,…own any of the…blah, blah,…characters of "Troy". There the required statement so I don't get sued.

A few days at sea and Patroclus was bored. All the other men seemed perfectly content with just being on the ship, whether they were singing, drinking, or even just sitting. They were all content, but not Patroclus. Achilles and Eudorus had both been too busy to give him any suggestions on what to do. The entire time they were planning on what to do when Troy came. Whenever their planning was done, Achilles was too tired and Eudorus would always tell Patroclus to go and find something else to do.

He threw his head back and sighed heavily. By the gods was he bored! All he wanted was something to do. Was that so much to ask? Looking over the side of the ship, Patroclus looked out at the endless ocean. Before the ocean had seemed exciting and fun with its limitless boundaries, not now.

Now the ocean was endless and boring. Patroclus stomped a foot and rested his chin on the side of the boat restlessly. His sleep had become affected, too. He would get so bored he would go to bed quite early, then he would just end up getting up before dawn.

Letting out another breath, decided to give up and go below deck.

By chance, Achilles had looked over at Patroclus and seen the turmoil of the boy. Too well he remembered being that antsy before learning the much needed patience of the trip on a ship. Without looking away for Patroclus, Achilles asked Eudorus, "How long has my cousin been like this, Eudorus?"

No Eudorus looked away from his work to Patroclus. He seemed a little confused before answering, "Just a few days, my lord. The men will not let him help with any work, because he has no experience. The boy has no idea what to do with himself on a ship for this long of time. Perhaps we should have left him back at Phtia with your father?"

Achilles shook his head with his gaze still on Patroclus, "No, that would not have accomplished much, besides an angry Patroclus. No, this I fear is the best solution."

"That still doesn't solve our problem, my lord."

Letting an aggravated sigh out Achilles answered, "No, it doesn't. I will be back, Eudorus."

Walking over to where Patroclus stood, Achilles rested his long, tanned arms on the side of the boat, too. At first he didn't say anything, because he knew Patroclus would.

Sure enough, when Patroclus felt his presence next to him, he jumped back and stood up completely straight. His tone was shocked and clipped as he addressed, "Achilles! I am sorry I was lagging on the job."

Looking around at the sedate boat Achilles smiled, "What job, cousin? I fear you have been quite bored lately."

As if being caught red-handed Patroclus took his place next to Achilles and relaxed in defeat. His look was faraway as he stared out at the endless ocean, "That is not the begining of it, Achilles. No man will let me work, I have nothing to do, I know very few souls well, and I-"

He stopped short and gave a quick look to Achilles before looking back out at the ocean. That really was all Achilles needed. He knew what Patroclus was trying to hide, but cutting himself off. With a heavy laugh, Achilles placed a friendly arm around his shoulders. Looking around Achilles lowered his lips to whisper, "I have missed you, too. Not used to not spending our usual training time together. Now laugh."

Patroclus did as he was told and laughed out loud really hard. When he stopped Achilles continued to whisper with his arm around his shoulders, "I know I have been busy, cousin. I have been neglectful, but this is a war we are going to."

Laughing to himself, Patroclus nudged Achilles in the side and teased, "If your men heard you, then you wouldn't be the stern and stoic soldier they all know. I have heard talk that you hold no emotions."

Achilles cast him a look that reminded Patroclus of the lion spotting his prey. Achilles whispered even quieter, "If they ever heard, all that would come is the head of a cousin of mine."

Smiling Achilles removed his arms from around Patroclus' shoulders and rested them on the side of the ship like Patroclus. His voice became just as serious as the other soldiers knew him. He said in an even tone, "How can you be sure you are ready, Patroclus? For war, that is."

A small chuckle escaped Patroclus as he said, "I serve you, Achilles. There is no other king that I take my orders from besides you. I have to be a good soldier for you, Achilles."

Achilles pushed his hand to fake push the boy's head. He faked a stern order, "Go meet with the other men for dinner. I have work and you distract me."

Patroclus couldn't help it when he watched Achilles walk off. Immediately the man went back to work with Eudorus. Now that he felt better about the trip. Before he knew it, a couple of the other soldiers were approaching him.

One of the older men who was at least a foot shorter than everyone of the other men behind him. The older man patted Patroclus on the shoulder and asked, "Why not join us for a night of sport before you turn in, youngblood?"

The three men were asking him to drink and talk before they went to sleep. This was a fine oppurtunity to establish himself as a new soldier and as a man. He nodded proudly and walked off with them.

Achilles was growing weary of Eudorus' fears, so he dismissed the man and walked about the ship. The open dusk air was very soothing to Achilles. He had killed many men these past years. No regrets, no hesitation, nothing. He had earned his reputation and lived by it. No man dared to question him and no man would ever disrespect him. He was Achilles and he brought hope to whatever side of the battle he was on.

Fear was a foreign foe to Achilles. Never in his life had he ever been afraid of anything. He had no reason to! So why now was the thought of losing Patroclus the only fear in his life. The boy was good. All the people he had met had some tainting quality. There had always been some quality to keep tham tainted enough for Achilles to simply not care a thought about them enough. Not Patroclus, though.

These past years Patroclus had proved himself to be a wonderfully untainted soul. He was good man. Not yet tainted by liquor or women or blood or riches or anything that corrupts men all around. Then again, Achilles himslef had shown Patroclus the wonders of the flesh. That was one aspect the boy was tainted.

Argh! Achilles pounded his fist into the side of the ship and fought the anger brewing inside of him. Patroclus was a old enough now for many things, but not for death and not to take a man's life.

Looking away from the all-knowing sea, Achilles spotted some of his experienced soldiers handing Patroclus a cow-hide flask. No doubt some of their strong wine.

Storming over to the circle of men, Achilles ripped the flask from Patroclus' hands. When the boy looked up at him he barked, "Get yourself on to bed!"

As he started to get up, Achilles didn't wait till he left to punish the other men. His words snarled calmly, "Give yourselves into the demons of the wine, cast your ways not onto my cousin."

When Achilles stalked off, he knew he had taken them by surprise. They had seen Achilles get angry, but never over something so trivial. It would be the talk for days. For some reason, Achilles cared not if they talked. If he wanted, he could easily stop the talk. A simple look could do it for any man who dared open his mouth.

More embarressed than upset, Patroclus lowered his clothing off his shoulders. The wound in his side burned all the way up and down his body. It had started to bleed again. His fight with Ajax had caused him more damage than he told anyone. No one, not even Ajax, knew that the man's sword and stabbed right under Patroclus' ribs.

No matter how he tried to cover the wound, it still bled. The pain of it still burned almost every hour or so. He unwrapped the linen he used and started grab some fresh ones when the doors burst open. Achilles stood there gaping as he gawked at the wound in Patroclus' side.

Then he collected himself and unsheathed his sword, "What man did this? I shall cast him in tenfold what he has done to you."

Patroclus shook his head frantically as he explained, "No man on this boat, Achilles. Ajax had no thought that he even connected this badly. He thought he connected with the leather in my armor."

Letting out all the angry breath, Achilles sat Patroclus on the bed behind him. Achilles walked away to get a small bowl of water and some peices of linen. He knelt before Patroclus and slowly began to cleanse the wound. Watching each moment as Patroclus winced in pain.

He stated calmly, "You never washed this. Why did you not make me aware of this, Patroclus?"

Biting some of the old linens Patroclus' words were muffled as he said, "You would have gotten angry and thought me weak. I wanted to take it like a man."

Achilles continued to washit as he muttered, "Fool, this wound has become raw and putrid. All this for your foolish pride?"

Patroclus lay down on his side as Achilles continued cleansing the wound. When Achilles finally got up, he reached for the bottle of heavy drinking ale. Patroclus knew instantly what he was going to do and he panicked.

Only staring at the bottle now approaching him, Patroclus froze up. The bed sank down next to Achilles as he sat down next to Patroclus and explained, "The wound must be cleaned out completely. I am going to caulderize it next. This is going to be painful, Patroclus, so if you want me to get Eudorus to come and hold you down, I will."

Patroclus shook his head and quietly answered, "No one else can see this, Achilles. I would be shamed."

With that Achilles poured the ale on the screaming wound. Patroclus bucked as soon as it hit the wound. Every speck of dirt he could feel being eaten away at. His stomach dug into the bed as his fists grappled with the sheets. He clung so tight that his knuckles were turning white and he could feel his fingernails through the sheet.

What Patroclus didn't know was how hard this was for Achilles. While Achilles was keeping a straight face, his heart was screaming. No one else could have done this job. He was the only way who could have treated Patroclus, because of the pain the boy was in. Although, Achilles knew what was coming next would be worse than any pain Patroclus had ever experienced.

Getting up from the bed to stick his sword in the fire, Achilles left Patroclus on the bed. The boy had the sheet in his mouth and was digging his teeth into it while the ale slid down his sides and dived into the wound.

The fire slowly turned the blade a burning color, then as time passed it became a light goldish orange and was singing with the fire dancing through it. When Achilles finally pulled it out, he noticed Patroclus refused to look at him. Instead, he was staring straight forward into nothingness.

Achilles took a place behind Patroclus on the bed and whispered, "I do this only to save you. It kills me to have to see you like this, but I have to."

Then he pressed the burning sword to Patroclus' wound and Achilles knew nothing harder.

Patroclus' stomach lurched forward and his back arched as he let out a loud scream. The room went black as he squeezed his eyes shut in pain. The fires of Hades were burning through Patroclus' injury as Achilles pressed the sword down harder. The tears were searing their own path down his cheek as he cried out. His body squirmed to get away from the fire, but two firm arms held him tight to the bed as the burning iron continued. Those mere seconds were centuries passing.

Not daring to open his eyes, Patroclus kept them shut. If he opened them he feared he would see his entire body on fire and the god, Hades, standing there laughing.

Achilles lifted the sword from the wound and held Patroclus. Patroclus kept his eyes closed as he bit his bottom lip. Right now Achilles' heart was breaking for having to do that. The sight of Patroclus screaming and crying as though death was taking him broke his heart and spirit. Finally minutes passed on and Patroclus hushed up and slept.

Placing him on the bed in a more comfortable fashion, Achilles got up. There was another bottle of drinking ale and he reached for it. After witnessing that, he needed a good drink.

Grabbing the bottle, he sat on the bed and began to drink. The sight of Patroclus writhin gin his arms while he screamed out dying was burned into his head. The sound of his screams and cries would forevere haunt him as the sound he caused. Even now he knew that boy would always be his greatest and only fear. How could such an unimportant soul be so important?

Taking a heavy gulp of the strong ale, Achilles tried to drown his aches in the brew. When things seemed to die down, a knock sounded on the door, followed by Eudorus entering.

Eudorus drank in the sight of the bloody linens, the still golden burning sword, a sleeping Patroclus, and a drinking Achilles. When his eyes met the angry pair on Achilles he answered, "I am eternally sorry, my lord, but I heard screams coming from your cousin's cabin."

Achilles' lip raised as he said, "So, you took it upon yourself Eudorus to make sure everything was in it's righted place."

Eudorus met his stare with loyalty, "Yes, my lord, I know if anything happened to the lad you would blame yourself. Is he in good health?"

Achilles now stood and waved the half empty bottle around with his words, "No, Eudorus, he is not in good health! Patroclus has been wounded. I had to clean and caulderize his mutilation myself."

"My lord Achilles, I would have helped, so would have the other men."

Going back towards the bed Achilles gave a humorless laugh, "He would have no one else know of his weakness. No other man on this ship shall know." Achilles cast his lion snarling eyes to Eudorus and asked, "Is that clear, Eudorus?"

Eudorus bowed to Achilles and vowed, "Yes, my lord."

With that the man disappeared again into the dak hallway of the ship to go about his duties. Achilles looked back over to the bed with sullen, focused eyes as he looked over to sleeping Patroclus. Crawling into the bed, too, Achilles slept next to Patroclus.

As he fell asleep he silently vowed, "No harm will come to you. I will make sure of it. Never again will either of us go through what we did tonight. This I promise, Patroclus."

Soon he was falling off to sleep and the funny thing was that he had meant every word of his vow. No matter who he had to battle he would protect Patroclus with his life. If the Fates had a different destiny for the lad, then he would change it. No one would take the last of humanity from him. Patroclus would live! To this he fought for.

to be continued