Spirits Forged in Fire

Odysseus slipped back into camp with Gracus, thankfully unnoticed. He dismissed the soldier, and strode into his tent, fully intent on delivering messages to all of his men before dawn, informing them of the new plan of action. He sat at the crude desk for a moment with his head in his hands, going over his decision in his mind. If he backed out now, he and his men would be sent in as the first wave of offense against the weakened trojan army. Troy would be overthrown, Menelaus would hail the victory that even his powerful older brother had never achieved, therefore securing the reputation as the most fearsome of Greeks. His rash temperment could only lead to tyranny, and the Greeks themselves would suffer under his unwielding hand. However, in aiding Paris and Achilles, he was aligning himself with a new government, with men who believed in perserverence through any hell, who had gained a deep understanding of honor along with defeat, and who had already chosen sides against powerful and greedy kings.
Sitting alone in his chair, Odysseus sighed, knowing that his chosen path was the one of good, yet it would not be easy. He let his head slip into his hands as he tried to steel himself against the losses that his men would suffer once the rage of Menelaus had been released. Despite the fact that all could be lost, Odysseus knew what he had to do.


Paris nearly fell to his knees when he lept off of his winded mount. Despite the fatigue that was beginning to overtake him, he knew that he had to reach the Trojans in time to move them out of the tunnels before they were trapped. Though sand caked his face, and his legs were cramping up, his own desperation, his own instinct to protect his people drove him on. It was at that very moment that he felt the closest with his brother; only now, when his people were threatened and he was their only protector, did he begin to understand the burden that Hector had carried all those years. Stumbling to his knees, he dipped his head for a moment.
"Hector, please, if you can hear me, please, give me the strength to reach them in time. Give me the strength that I need, brother." He gasped, believing somewhere deep inside that his brother was watching over them.
After his emotional plea, Paris stood with renewed strength. He raced down the empty halls, and took the stairs three at a time, his mind only on the safety of his beloved Trojans. He reached the dark passage that entered the tunnels, and felt his heart sink as he realized that all of the torches had been taken with the fleeing people. Taking a deep breath, he entered the darkness, and immediately moved to the left side of the tunnel. Reaching his arm out, he placed his palm flat against the stone walls, and took off at a steady jog, using the curve of the walls to guide him. For what felt like hours he moved uncertainly in darkness, praying that there werent any forks in the passage. Eventually though, he was able to make out a dim light ahead of him, a light that was continuously getting brighter as he approached. Although breathless, he yelled hoarsely to the procession in front of him, and had just glimpsed the backs of his fleeing people when all went dark.


Briseis knew that she could wait no longer, that as much as she tried, she could not help but birth the child in Kale's tent, right into his waiting arms. Although she desperately hoped to protect the child, to keep it within her until she had been found, her spirit was weakening with every passing minute. Her breath was coming short, and she knew that at any time, Kale would return, and no doubt inflict further pain upon her. Fleeting thoughts that perhaps she wouldnt survive this ordeal were entering her mind, and scaring her. Kale's presence meant the presence of an entire army, and for all she knew, the Trojans might already be dead, her own Achilles might be lost to her forever. Closing her eyes, she tried to picture their first time together, the night that she realized she had fallen in love with him, yet the pain caused those pictures to escape from her mind. She could no longer think of anything but her pain, and of the danger that both she and her child were in. As if on cue, she felt the baby begin to crown, and she let out a soul-shattering scream, a scream of pain as well as a scream of grief, of the losses that were to come.


Achilles crawled closer to the dune, and could barely make out the outline of a crude tent in the dim moonlight. Although Kale was no where to be seen, Achilles could feel in his gut that she was here, that Briseis was in that tent waiting for him. Unfortunately, he also knew the extents to which Kale would go, and hesitated due to the fact that it was most likely a trap. For all he knew, Briseis could already be dead, and Kale could be waiting for him in the tent, the trap set. The thought that Briseis could be dead sent a shock though him, reaching deeper than he thought anything could touch. For a moment, his air disappeared, and his vision went black. As his sense slowly returned, so came a rage that was deeper than anything he had previously known. If Briseis were dead, then he had nothing to live for besides Kale's death. Without her, his life was forfeit anyway, so the answer became clear. He stood up, placing his hand on the sheath of his sword, and began to walk steadily towards the tent, in plain view to any who might be watching. As he strode towards the tent, his anger bubbling over and threatening to take over, he heard her scream. Briseis was alive! All thoughts, all the anger in his mind fled and were replaced by sheer terror at the moment that he heard her, and he ran.

Once he saw the warrior pick up his pace in reaction to Briseis' cry, the lone figure at the side of the dune stood up, brandishing both a sword and a club. The mighty Achilles would fall tonight alongside his whore, both dead by his own hand. Kale began his steady pace towards the tent, waiting for the moment of reunion, the same moment that he would destroy them both.

Sorry guys, I know this is a heck of a way to end things after such a long absence, but I just got settled back into school, and will now be able to update more frequently. As always, reviews and helpful critiques are always appreciated greatly. Thanks so much! ~Megs