Spirits Forged in Fire

"Wake up..." Briseis heard the deep voice through her dreams, and slowly opened her large eyes.

"What is it? It's only dawn," Briseis noted, from the early light beginning to stream through the opening to the tent.

"We must go now, before anyone sees us." Achilles said softly, already fitting on his armor and grabbing for his weapons.

"Where are we going, what are you doing?" Briseis came awake, now fearing what was to happen by Achilles sudden brisque manner.

"I'll tell you when we get closer. Now dont make a sound." Achilles came over and took her hand, helping her to fasten one of his robes overtop of her lithe form. He had to concentrate on the task at hand, and not allow memories of last night to come flooding back to him, or he feared he wouldnt have the strength to go through with this. Briseis, trusting the man with all of her heart, followed him, and the two set out in the early morning light. They climbed up the rocky coast, and made towards Troy, all the while Briseis wondered what they were doing. Perhaps he had given up his will to fight, and they would leave? She knew, from the looks she had gotten, and from the way he had grasped her body tightly to his when they slept entangled the night before, that Achilles would do her no harm. When the massive walls of Troy were in their line of vision, Achilles stopped and spun her to face him. "Now tell me how we can get past those walls." He said evenly, looking at her. For a moment, her heart stopped, as she envisioned her family murdered in their sleep, at the hands of the man she had lain with. Achilles sensed her fear though, and grasped her face with his hands. "Briseis, listen to me. I mean you family no harm, and will leave without a second glance. I swear to you, no one will learn how we entered the gates, and I will not use that entrance ever again. You are going home, where you will be safer than with me." Briseis' eyes widened, as the force of his words hit her.

"You mean, I ...I am free?" She asked, bewildered. He looked hurt though, and his hands fell to his sides.

"Briseis, you have always been free. I never meant..." But his words were stopped by her lips upon his and her arms around him. She poured her everything into that kiss, and then back up slowly when it ended.

"Wait, where will you go?" She asked, her lips trembling at the sudden realization that they were parting.

"I am a soldier Briseis, as you are a princess of Troy. I fight this war because it is my destiny, just as yours is to return to Troy. Promise me that you will not look back, that you will not wait for me." He gripped her arms hard, looking deep into her eyes as if he could will her to listen. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. When she spoke, it was with great pain, and honesty.

"Achilles, that I cannot--"

"Promise me!" He yelled, his anger mounting at her unwillingness to forget him. "Briseis, I need to know you will be safe." To his relief, she nodded sadly. He pulled her into his embrace. There they stayed, while the sun rose over the horizon. "I will follow you." He said sadly, as they began the climb down towards the cave used only by Trojan fishermen to reach the shore before the appearance of the Greek fleet. He followed her in silence, his dagger drawn should they be mistaken for intruders. Briseis bravely navigated the dark cavern until she reached the entrance to the tunnel. Nodding in silent agreement, Achilles followed her through the tunnel, until they reached a smaller tunnel which led into a garden behind the palace of Troy.

"I cant stand the thought of this. Why the wait?" Helen paced the floor in front of Andromache, who sat holding her son on the side of a fountain.

"There is much planning that goes into a war. We must wait for Agamemnon's move first, and then Troy will engage. Do not worry, we will be safe within these walls. Will you hold him? I need to stretch my legs. The younger woman came over to Andromache, and picked up young Astyanax from his mothers lap. Andromache stretched, and wrapped her arms around her body protectively. "Helen, I know you fear for Paris' safety. I pray to the gods every waking moment that Hector will be safe, but this war goes beyond any of us. We can only hope--" And Andromache jumped as she saw the stone being pushed away from the wall. "Helen...?" She said slowly, and softly, getting the princesses' attention. Helen too paled when she saw the tunnel entrance opening, and stood up, ready to bolt towards the protection of the palace with the baby in her arms. Andromache picked up a stone from the garden next to her, and held her arm up, ready to strike at the intruder.

Inside the tunnel, Achilles pushed Briseis behind him as he opened the door, prepared to defend her should they be attacked before Briseis was recognized. With a cat's grace, he lept out of the opening, and grabbed the arm of the woman who stood, ready to deal a heavy blow with the stone in her hand. Helen shrieked, and Briseis jumped out from behind Achilles.

"Stop! Its ok, Andromache." Briseis soothed, seeing that Achilles still held the womans arm for she refused to relinquish her weapon. When the womans eyes fell upon her missing cousin though, the rock clattered to the ground, and Achilles released her so that she could embrace Briseis. Helen stood shocked, but made her way over to greet Briseis.

"Oh Briseis, I thought you were dead....we all did." Andromache nearly sobbed, pulling Briseis into a tight hug. Helen clasped Astyanax tighter to her breast, and planted a kiss on his forehead, while moving over to greet the returned captive.

"Andromache, give me just a moment, please?" Briseis asked, stepping out of the embrace. Nodding silently, with tears flowing down her regal cheeks, Andromache complied and moved towards Helen, to take her son.

Briseis took a deep breath, and turned to face Achilles where he stood silently watching the interaction of the women. "I cannot thank-" Briseis broke off, unable to finish. The warrior walked towards the tunnel through which they had entered, and paused, turning to face her.

"You promised me." He said, his voice sounding hard as a stone.

"I will. I... Achilles..." She closed her eyes tightly, unable to look into his. She crumpled to the ground as she heard him leave, pulling the stone back into place. She lay on the ground crying, until she felt Helens soft touch upon her back. She leaned into the other woman, and the tears flowed freely as Helen clutched Briseis to her. When the young priestess seemed to regain her composure, Andromache first spoke.

"Briseis...was that..." She asked in wonder, unable to complete her sentence.

"Yes, Achilles. That was he." Briseis said, her voice clearing of her grief.

"Did he hurt you? Are you alright?" Helen asked, now aware of Andromaches fear.

"Yes, I am alright. He kept me safe from Agamemnon." Briseis said softly.

"Oh thank the gods" Helen whispered, full aware of what could have happened if Briseis had been in the Kings control.

"What did you promise him, Briseis? What price did he make you pay for your freedom?" Andromache asked, fearing for the safety of the city when it came to the greek hero.

"Just that I would stay safe." Briseis said, staring at the ground as she rose to her feet. Although she thought of Andromache as a sister, and had come to like Helens quiet ways, she knew that they would not understand what had transpired. Not knowing how to react, Andromache quickly spoke up.

"Let us find Hector and Paris, for they will-" But she was cut off with the entrance of the princes themselves.

"We will what?" Hector said teasingly, until he saw Briseis standing before him, with tearstained cheeks. "By Hera...Briseis, what are you...?" He ran towards her, pulling her tightly to him while Paris looked to Helen for an explanation.

"Hector..." Her tears flowed anew as she embraced first her older cousin, then his younger brother. "Oh Paris, I didnt think I would ever see you all again..."

"How did you get here? How did you escape?" Paris asked her, his face partially buried in her hair. Because Briseis was overcome with emotion at the reunion with her beloved cousins, Andromache spoke.

"Achilles" was all she said. At the name of their fabled enemy, Paris stiffened. Hector surprised them all by placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"He returned her?" He asked. Shocked at his lack of surprise, Andromache only nodded.

"He kept her from Agamemnon, and then left once she was with us" she replied. Hector was not surprised at this behavior, having known the humanity that he saw, even for a brief moment, back in the temple the night before. Now Achilles placid behaviour that night made more sense. He noticed a bruise on Briseis temple, and placed his hand over top of it.

"He didn't do this to you, did he" Hector said, rather than asked. Briseis shook her head.

"No, he didnt hurt me" She answered softly. Hector pulled her tight to him again, beginning to understand why the young woman was upset. She had fallen in love with Achilles, and he with her.

"Its ok" he comforted her, not wishing to share her secret with anyone else standing before them. "Lets take you in and get you cleaned up. You must want a rest after your ordeal." Pale and frail looking, Briseis nodded and leaned into her cousins arm as he led her inside, followed by the rest of their little family. Before they went inside, Briseis stole a look back at the doorway to the tunnel from which they had just come, hoping that Achilles had made it back to the shore safely.