Jupiterpercyjack: For sure, Apollo will have to intervene. You know how he is!XD

7DeadlySins: Don't worry! I am pretty sure Achilles realised that it was stupid! I am confused by the raven comment, because I am pretty sure that I made clear that it was the raven that was angry at Achilles. I am glad that you liked the character development of Achilles in this chapter. This was my biggest challenge in this one.

Invitado: It is now updated!

This story is already two years old! Wow! Thank you for still staying with me!

Chapter 28: Achilles

Achilles was acting very strange, recently.

During the twelve days of mourning, he had avoided talking to her as much as he could. He also avoided eye contact with her and to touch her. He simply avoided her in a whole.

He spent the days in his tent or outside walking around. He seemed totally lost in his thoughts. But at least, he didn't seem to be mad like when he was in conflict with Agamemnon.

She deeply suspected that the kiss was the reason behind this behavior. No, she didn't just suspect. This was the reason!

Was he ashamed? Guilty? A mix of both?

Deep inside, she wanted to have a meaningful conversation with him in order to clarify the things and erase the new awkwardness between them. On the other side, she didn't want to push him.

It might be because of Patroclus. The grief didn't leave the atmosphere of the tent yet and would remain for many more days and probably more years.

Did he feel like he betrayed him? Did he commit that act to her because he needed comfort and acted without thinking?

The death of Asclepius taught her how the loss of someone close can do weird things to you. Often, you will even become irrational.

And so, she respected his space. She didn't bring up the subject and she didn't attempt to talk to him. As long as she knew that he didn't hate her. She trusted him to talk to her once again when he would be ready.

There was something else occupying her mind: would Achilles go back home like he said? Would he attempt to get the quiet life he regretted? She liked him so much and wished for him to find happiness once again.

Twelve days passed and he was still here. He didn't announce anything to her or the soldiers. Was he reflecting?

Too many questions and no answers. She had to be patient. All she could do was staying with him, be the most comforting company she could be and reassuring him about the fact she wasn't mad at him for the "incident". Her sincere affection for him still remained.

On the end of the last day of mourning, she lied on her bed. She slept here more often. To be more precise she hadn't returned to the sea since the death of Patroclus. She couldn't bear to leave Achilles alone during those difficult times.

All of a sudden, Achilles stood up and approached her. She rose her chin and looked at him. He appeared so tall and majestic from this point of view. And he smiled. Like if the sparkle of his being who died on the same day than Patroclus had resuscitated.

"I just wanted to tell you thank you and…be careful at not getting too easily angry."

She frowned her eyebrows. What did he mean?

Noticing her confusion, he added. "Just don't be like me."

And with that, he left to go to his own bed. He extinguished the candle with his breathe and then, the darkness enveloped them.

Delphina didn't know what to think. She possessed a bad feeling. Was it a warning? Or just an advice of wisdom?

Still, why would he say that right now before going to bed? On the last day of peace?

Did he decide to go back to war and risk his life?

After all, why else would she get angry?

…

When Achilles woke up, she was still deep asleep. Good for him! He would not deal with her.

He sighed before proceeding to put on his armor. Since there was no one to help him, it took longer to dress himself. So, he reflected while he looked at her.

When he told her thank you, it was for everything. Thanks for being such a great company during his childhood. Often taking his defense when his mother scolded him like a very good supportive auntie.

Thanks for having been there for these last ten years, although she had been obligated. Thanks for the laughs, the care, the conversations. Thanks for looking over them like a mother. Thanks for doing her best to protect Patroclus. Thanks for saving his body. Thanks for scolding him like he deserved. And thanks for still believing in him despite all he had done.

He sighed. It was time. He left the tent.

Achilles embarked on his chariot in front of his army: the Myrmidons. They were all screaming his name continuously, cheering for their leader and their hero. They were ready to fight for him whenever he wanted. They possessed pride of being under the commandment of the best of the Greeks. Someone too great for mankind, almost a god.

Well, that's what they thought. They underestimated the human part of himself. Certainly the best part.

He closed his eyes and thought of Patroclus. If only he was still here with him… How much he missed this missing part of his soul!

"My beloved, just wait a little longer for me, it would not be too long. And then, I will beg your forgiveness in person." He thought.

He ordered his second hand to make the men walk. He didn't plan to attack directly the Trojans. Only to defend his side. And see what will happen… Whatever will happen.

The horses sped up. The fresh wind hit his body. The screams of the warriors shook the ground of the beach. And for once, Achilles felt free. Free of the pressure, free of the expectations, free of the fear of death.

He eyed the Trojans. Even more since the death of Hector, none dared to approach him. He appeared like an unstoppable and immortal beast. Nothing to fear from him. He would only attack if his men would be in great danger and right now, they were doing pretty fine.

Well, some courageous soldiers decided to come at him. Some foolish fighters eager to risk their lives in order to gain some glory by avenging their previous prince and leader.

Such admirable courage… Achilles debarked from his chariot and took his sword to fight them. How he loved this sensation when he displayed his talents!

This was a war led by Agamemnon, for his brother Menelaus. In order to retrieve his wife, Helen of Sparta. And in some way, a way to defeat and eradicate a long-time rival of the Greeks.

This war never was personal for Achilles and still wasn't. Only a road to the glory promised to him since his birth. But after the loss of Patroclus and the meeting with Priam, glory tasted like dust.

No, its only reason to be here was to show to the gods that he was willing to assume his decisions and accept his fate.

And so, he fought. He struck every opponent coming at him with ease. They all fell like flies. Many minutes passed and he still felt no fatigue.

After slaying the last failed candidate to be his slayer, he paused. He was now standing alone. No one was approaching him anymore.

"Nobody to challenge me anymore?!"

His disappointment didn't last.

He raised his chin. Sunlight suddenly hit him in the eyes and he had to bring his hand above his forehead to cover the blinding effect. Then, he saw it.

Slightly under the bright sun, on the top of the walls of Troy, an archer stood fiercely, holding his bow with the point of his arrow targeting him. It only took a few seconds.

With a surreal precision, the weapon followed its trajectory, piercing the wind and reaching its finale destination in the most unlikely part of Achilles' body that his enemies would target.

Not his heart, not his head, not his throat, not even his legs… But his ankle.

The warrior fell on the ground before disappearing from the view.

…

Achilles was now lying down on the ground, on his back, trying to limit his moves in order to appease the pain.

The sun was still very blinding and so, he closed his eyes. The pain was slowly spreading in his body but remained bearable. And yet, he could feel the Fates be close to cut the thread of his life.

He listened to the din around him. The battle was finished. The soldiers were ready to go back. He heard one of the Myrmidons order the others to look for his body. That sentence puzzled him. Were they blind? He lied down just around here! They could easily recognize his shining armor, gift of the gods.

Suddenly, the arrow that had stayed in his heel was taken out in one-shot. He screamed for a moment. The action pushed him to open his eyes.

He gasped at the sight!

The sight of a chest pale like marble and finely sculpted. The sight of golden hair glowing like the sun decorated with a crown of laurels. The sight of a strong hand holding the arrow tainted from his own blood. The sight of blue eyes gazing at him with pity.

Of course, he knew who he was… He expected him.

"Sorry if it hurt." The God of Light said with a low voice. "But you will not die from the wound exactly… The point of the arrow was covered with the venom of a viper. It will take a while before it accomplishes its full effect. So, we have time."

Achilles didn't ask how much time. He still listened to the soldiers shouting to look for him. The god sighed. "I made ourselves invisible. So, don't be surprised if they cannot see us. I just dislike to be interrupted."

No more question needed. Then, Apollo sat down on the ground, near his face. Out of nowhere, he made appear his lyre. "Don't you mind if I play music?"

No answer. The God began to play. "Not very talkative as I can see. That's ok for me. I prefer to not hear you."

And his hands pulled the strings to produce a sweet melody. He sighed once again before saying. "You know you are very lucky? In a few hours, you will be reunited with Patroclus for eternity. Once again, you will enjoy that felicity. In a few moments, you will savour with him the ecstasy. So, you see? I am capable of mercy. I am just setting you free."

Then, the music took a more melancholic tone. "Sadly, I may never know that feeling. I may be immortal and powerful, but is it truly a blessing? You are always living. But the mortal ones you are cherishing? You are probably guessing. I have lost Asclepius because of his pride. Then… I have lost Troilus because of your pride."

He pursed the melody in a louder and angrier sound. "For a while I wanted to kill you. How badly I wanted to! But your mother is smart. She used the weakness of my heart. " He roared at the thought. "I hate how she succeeded! By using an oath to get you and her bonded! She managed to delay your fate by using my fear. My fear to hurt her even more. Although her absence already feels like being hit by a spear. I couldn't bear to worsen it, I swore!"

He made a pause. Then, he played one note with hesitation before playing a big one so loud it could be heard on Olympus. "Then…twelve days ago, you crossed the line. When you attempted to take what is mine." He uttered coldly.

Then, he looked at Achilles who still hadn't moved but sent back the stare. Apollo added. "So, you are thinking of me as a hypocrite? But you have to recognise it. Her thoughts are most of the time about me. She will always blush harder when it is for me. She got more nervous when she is around me. She cannot lie to me. I know that her heart still belongs to me! It is the only thing she has left for me!"

And the god began to play a melody that felt very possessive and angry. Like he wanted the whole place to feel his ire. Then, he returned to a soft sound. Like he was calmed down for an instant. He sighed. "You know what? I still cannot fully hate you. I am mostly envious of you. Can you believe that? You and I are so similar in many ways. We lust for power, adoration and praise. Sometimes, people see us as monsters when we get mad. Then, when they see us as heroes, we still find ourselves sad."

Achilles released a moan. His skin was becoming paler. He was beginning to breath with difficulty. The venom was getting further in its job. There was still some time left for Apollo to speak. "You can feel the pain? Does it drive you insane? Still nothing compared to losing the one you love, you will agree. And still nothing to what I am suffering, you see? With him, you have tasted this happiness. With him, you have known this blissfulness. I've got my experiences, but never something so pure. What I experimented, it always felt like a torture."

The song he played was getting slower through its denouement. "Look at yourself. You finally got your redemption. Look at myself. Once again, I didn't learn the lesson. But Fates had to make me your murderer. Fates had to make me my own destroyer."

A single tear fell from his left eye. "Now…it is too late. I have no other choice but to face the hate."

And he finished the song. Silence occupied the place despite the screams of the soldiers from a fair distance, still looking for their hero.

Achilles felt the power of Thanatos on him. Atropos was slowly approaching her shears to his thread of life. He tried to speak. Without success. Noticing it, Apollo decided to use his healing power to give temporarily some capacity to his voice.

"I…" Achilles said hoarsely. "I still hope she will forgive you."

And he smiled before closing his eyes, at peace at last.

Apollo said nothing.

…

Delphina rarely overslept. And yet, for an unknown reason, on this day, Morpheus kept her far longer in his kingdom and when she opened her eyes, she realised that midday had passed.

Her eyes searched in the tent for a sign of the presence of Achilles. She found none. She didn't hear the sound of the Myrmidons doing their daily activities outside neither. It was abnormally quiet.

That observation made her stood up quickly. Her first guess was clear: Achilles certainly went back to the battlefield. And without telling her anything! But why?

Didn't he decide to go back home? Did he change his mind? Or was he forced to go back on the front? No! He would never be forced easily! It was on his own free will, for sure.

She went to change into proper clothes then put a foot outside the tent. She could almost believe that the Fates wanted her to wake up at this exact moment when she saw what she saw.

All the Myrmidons regrouped together behind one driving a chariot attached to a trailer. They all walked in synchronism, like if they were part of an improvised solemn ceremony. This allure wasn't normal. The last time she saw something similar was the night of the death of Patroclus.

Wait!

Her heart overtook her brain as she ran forward, forgetting to put on her mortal disguise. She couldn't think straight as the worst scenario she imagined materialised the closer she got to the army who didn't react widely at her sudden apparition with her obvious divine halo. They knew that a woman always lived around Achilles' entourage and being aware of his divine origins, they always suspected that she had to be a nymph or goddess herself, maybe even his own mother.

Well, they were somehow right, but the validity of their suspicions didn't matter right now. The discovery made by the goddess was all that mattered.

She could almost mimic the scene. Just like when Achilles touched Patroclus' face, she touched his face. Just like when Achilles kissed his mouth, she deposited her front on his own, as her sign of affection from an aunt who had seen this boy grew from a toddler to a man. And just like him, she released tears to fall on his corpse.

The prophecy had been fulfilled. Nothing could have prevented it.

Thoughts of Asclepius were unavoidable as she contemplated this human being whom she had cohabited with for a decade. How many years did it take her to overcome her first grief already? With the sight of the body in front of her and the thought of the ashes of Patroclus buried not far from here, she felt like she never got over it. Like she had always known it. This pain. This despair.

Like she had too much grown used to it.

A soldier approached her. He held an arrow in his hand. "We found this plunged in his ankle. According to our informers, it was shot by Paris, the prince of Troy. We cannot explain it. It is well known in both camps that the son of Priam is a very bad archer."

"But no one was supposed to know about the vulnerable spot of Achilles." Delphina thought.

Unless…

She asked to see the arrow. Once she received it, she began to analyse it. She brought it closer to her nose. Only her divine senses could detect it. The presence of a dried substance often used by Asclepius when he practiced medicine: viper's venom.

The truth was too clear. "Paris has been helped." She said out loud.

And something just broke in her. The soldiers around her could feel it. A growing wave of energy enveloping the area. A divine pressure that Delphina never thought she could release. Her fist tightened around the arrow. The intensity of her power unleashed increased.

The men stepped back, terrified by this demonstration of supernatural fury. She was angry! And still, angry sounded like a weak word to describe how she felt. For the first time, she felt a need to destroy. For the first time, she wanted someone else to feel her pain. For the first time, she felt like her own sense of reason was leaving her.

Her eyes saw red. Her ears heard the earth shaking under her feet. Her tongue tasted the betrayal.

She looked up. The sun. That cursed sun!

What had Achilles told her this morning? She forgot. Her whole attention was up there. To the one who clearly observed her from the sky.

"Look at me! Look at me! LOOK AT ME!"

Why did he have to do that to her?! WHY?!

She couldn't remark how the others were scared of her. Like if an entity had taken possession of her body. She couldn't care less. Let them feel her wrath because she was definitely sad and mad.

Her heart had been broken in a thousand pieces.

Thank you for reading!

Now this is the moment when I pray to not be killed by the readers (Ah! The joys of being a slow burn romance writter!XD)

This chapter marks the ending of Achilles' Arc. But it also marks the great come back of Apollo. Notice, this is the first time that we see him talk since chapter 19. Thank you for your patience.

This chapter is shorter than the previous ones but insanely very difficult to write. Apollo's monologue alone took me almost two weeks to write. A true writting challenge!

Fun fact, Apollo wasn't supposed to appear with Achilles at first. I was afraid that it would make him look too dark. But I got so inspired. I knew that I needed to write it. In the end, he doesn't appear so dark and it was one of the best writting experiences!

Hey! Guys! We are now entering the Odyssey! It is advancing so fast!

I hope you enjoyed it!

See you soon!