Spirits Forged in Fire

Although her sight was hazy with lust, Briseis could see clearly his magnificent outline in the mid-day glow of the sunlight that streamed in through the side of her bedchamber. Even though she suspected that he had not even so much as sparred with another person since the war had ended, sailing had kept his body lean and muscular, every inch as breathtakingly handsome as her dreams had imagined him. His kisses were desperate, and she in turn clung to him as if he would disappear if she gave him the chance. His calloused hands thrilled her with their gentle but needy touches all over her, her hips, her thighs, her breasts. He ran his hands down her arms, sending a chill down her back, before sitting back on his heels to remove the rest of his tunic.

She didnt have to see his arousal to know its girth, the power that pulsed through the veins, velvety soft and scorchingly hot. She ached for him, and even though he had barely finished de-robing, she was up against him, touching and kissing.

"You were taking too long" She said, her voice smoky with passion. Although he laughed at her impatience, Achilles himself was nearly bursting with desperation as well. He narrowed his stormy blue eyes at her, and gripped her arms almost tightly, pushing her onto her back. A single hand ran down her shoulder, to her waist, her hip, her thigh, and then stopped at her calf. Gently but forcefully, he lifted her leg up, and leaned down so that he was in between her graceful legs, his breath quickening with the new contact. As her hands grabbed his lower back, pulling him into her, he tilted his hips back, and then drove them forward, entering her in one fast thrust. While her one leg remained straight on the bed, her other was still lifted, the back of her knee now resting on his muscular forearm. Judging her to be comfortable with such flexibilty, he allowed his passion to roll over top of him, and the pace increased. Briseis head was tilted back, her slender neck exposed to him. Achilles, nearly lost in her, could not help but taste her flesh there, which sent the young woman over the edge. Her eyes clenched shut, as her back arched, allowing him to go deeper with every motion of his hips. Feeling her tighten around him, Achilles could hold out no longer and spent himself in her, his entire body trembling with the effort, and his breath catching in his throat.

When the fog cleared, Achilles looked down upon Briseis' flushed face and smiled.

"That was exactly what I crossed the ocean for." He said, his voice hoarse. She laughed weakly. "And are you alright?" He asked her.

"I think I reached Mount Olympus" She said breathlessly. Achilles laughed, and lay down beside her, pulling her close. He kissed the top of her head while she traced an idle finger across his sweaty chest. She sighed happily, before leaning onto her back to stare at the cieling. The absolutely blissful expression on her face melted away though, and Achilles felt a tug of fear at his heart.

"Briseis? Love, what is it?" He asked, leaning up on one arm to look at her. Still though, her eyes refused to meet his, as she seemed to be studying the cieling above them.

"Will you stay?" She said softly, as Achilles felt a sharp pain of guilt. He realized that the thought that he might desert her must have weighed heavily on her mind. Before he spoke up though, Briseis continued. "I dont know if you have thought about this yet, but you must know, I dont know that I could survive you leaving again, I need you, I..." But she was silenced with a finger across her lips.

"Briseis, my mind was made up the moment that I saw you back in the center of the city. For some reason, the Gods have pitied me, and offered me a second chance. I would be a fool for giving that up." He pushed a stray curl out of her now teary eyes. "I love you Briseis, because you are everything that you are, because you forgave me," his hand then slid down to rest over her stomach, "and because you are carrying my child." Briseis was speechless in response, so Achilles kissed her, tracing a hand down her cheek. "You are my life now" He said softly, between kisses.

"I love you Achilles." She said.


"There you are" Priam said to the happy couple as the entered the hall for dinner. Andromache smiled when she saw the flush on both of their faces, and politely looked at the ground to hide her smile. Paris tried to ignore the obvious, and stood to greet his cousin, while guiding her to a seat next to him. As Achilles began to take a seat next to her, Priam spoke up.
"Achilles, you will sit next to me" He motioned to an empty spot between he and Andomache, who gracefully moved over. "We have much to discuss."
"It would be my honor." Achilles nodded respectfully, and took the proffered spot next to the King.
Dinner continued peacefully, with the women engaged in conversation and the men adding comments here and there, but no more than that. When they had finished, Priam stood.
"Would you mind excusing us ladies? We have something we must discuss" the older man said, walking towards the garden. Achilles and Paris followed slowly. When they reached the guard at the entrance to the garden, Priam finally spoke again.
"Phinneas, would you please fetch the boy? We are ready to hear him speak now." The guard nodded, and headed back towards the main hall. Paris led his father to a seat, while Achilles remained standing, feeling edgy and somewhat caged. When the soldier returned, he was accompanied by a young lad of about 12.
" What is your name boy?" Priam asked gently.
"Damean, your highness." The boy bowed awkwardly.
"And can you tell me what you told Cimeon earlier this afternoon?" The boy looked nervously at the king, then at Paris and Achilles, who stood in the shadows behind the King.
"I was riding my Lord. Actually, I had just stopped to water Nika, my horse, when three men rode up to me. They were dressed in strange clothing, and had an accent, so I knew they werent from Troy. They asked me if I had ever heard of Achilles, so I said yes. One of the men then grabbed my horse and pulled him away from me. He put a knife up against Nika's throat, and then asked me if I had seen Achilles. If I lied to him, he said he would cut Nika's throat. I told him that I hadnt heard anything about Achilles since the war ended, and then asked why would he be in Troy? He is a greek! The man laughed, and then grabbed me by the throat. I couldnt breathe, but he wouldnt let me go. He told me that if I told anyone that they had been looking for Achilles that he would slit my throat too. And then he sliced Nikas throat!" The boy choked off slightly, clearly upset but trying his hardest to keep the tears at bay. "The other man called him Kale" With that, Achilles back stiffened, which Paris could not help but notice.
"Thank you my son, thats all that I needed to hear. Phinneas here will keep an eye on your house, and see that no harm will come to you."
"Thank you my King, but...I'm sorry, thank you." Damean said, cutting himself off. He turned to leave abrubtly.
"Yes, my boy?" The king said gently, smiling to set the boy at ease.
"Well, they killed Nika sir, he was my friend, our only horse." He said, sniffing quietly. Priam stood, and placed a weathered hand on the boys shoulder.
"Phinneas? Bring Simeon out please." Then he looked back down at young Damean. "I know that nothing I can do that will bring your horse back. But I do know of one horse who's owner died, who is looking for someone to pay attention to him."
"You do?" Damean looked up, hopeful.
"Yes I do." He smiled as Phinneas returned a moment later, leading a quiet bay.
"Hes beautiful, thank you! Your highness, I mean." Damean ran towards the animal, stroking his neck, and talking eagerly to him. Phinneas lifted the boy onto the horses back, and handed him the reins.
"Just be careful and stay closer to the city my boy, you take care of him." The boy nodded eagerly, and urged the horse into a gentle trot with his heels. The pair left, and Priam turned back towards Achilles and Paris, whose expressions had darkened with the news.
"I know that man." Achilles said, feeling guilt wash over him at the boy's experience on his behalf. "He is no doubt seeking out Agamemnon's killer. They had gone to my home across the sea, and have obviously traced me here too. He was one of Agamemnon's lieutenants, and is no doubt now one of Menelaus'. Although Menelaus would not cross the sea for his wife's sake, I bet my life that he will come to avenge his brother. I must leave Troy." He said brusquely, trying to avoid placing anyone else in harm's way for his sake.
"And do you think he will stop once he finds you? Troy was the city where Agamemnon died. Menelaus will not ignore us for long. If he comes to these shores, he will search you down, but he will also see Troy eliminated." Paris said heatedly, halting Achilles motion to leave.
"My son is right. We were in danger here even before you came to this city. If you stay here, we can use you. You are a valuable warrior, some say the best. If we have you fighting in our ranks, you might give the men left enough hope to try." Priam said slowly, and earnestly. Realizing that he made sense, Achilles nodded in agreement.
"We must rebuild the wall of Troy" Achilles said, meeting Paris', then Priams eyes. "Menelaus is not the commander that Agamemnon was, it will take him longer to gather a force large enough to cross the sea. The soldiers of Greece, at least those that returned alive, have not been home for long, and will be very reluctant to begin yet another campaign. I would say we have around thirty days."
"The the trojan wall will be reubuilt in thirty days." Paris said, his voice hard and sure.


Keep up the reviews guys! The more you review, the faster I can write, deal?