Spirits Forged in Fire

"What manner of men ransack a temple of a god?!" Andromache cried softly against the cheek of her young son. Hector's head hung into his hands as he sat down on the edge of the bed, having just delivered the news of Apollo's temple to his faithful wife.

"With Agamemnon's army knocking at our doors, I do not have time to grieve her as she justly deserves. My hands are tied. These are not men, but monsters. Should they breach the walls of Troy, I fear all will be lost." Hector spoke slowly but wearily. His grief slowly disappated and was replaced with a growing anger which he knew could be used in the coming war.

"And if she is still alive?" Andromache turned towards her husband, daring to ask the question no one was willing to consider. Hector found it difficult to look her in the eyes, for in them was an intense yet naive hope for the well being of Briseis.

"Then I will find her. But let us pray for her sake that she is not." With that, Hector stood from the bed and reached for his sword, kissing both his wife and child before leaving them.


In another room down the hall, Paris sat next to Helen, who was lying facedown on the bed.

"I never should have come here. Briseis should not the to have suffered for me." Helen's tears dampened the blanket, as Paris's hand stroked her back in reassurance.

"Shhh, don't speak like that. This has moved beyond you and Menelaus now, and you know that. Agamemnon has had his eyes on Troy for years and only needed the slightest reason to storm our shores." Paris soothed. Helen sat upright, her intense green eyes burning into Paris'.

"How can the gods be so cruel? If Briseis is with Agamemnon..." Helen choked on her words. Paris leaned to murmur in her ear, but she pushed him gently back. "You dont understand, they way he looks at women...I was only spared because I was married to his brother, and even then I never could have been sure. Oh Paris, if she still lives..." There Helen broke, unable to think anymore on the possibilities if the young Trojan priestess still lived.


Despite the fact that Achilles had made no threatening move towards her, Briseis feared for her safety as a prisoner of the famous war hero. She had heard stories for a few years now of his conquests in battle, and his desire for the brutal and the bloody, and a big part of her feared what other desires the man might harbor. Since the sky was beginning to darken, Briseis made a decision to make a move. She would be shielded slightly in the cover of darkness, and had a better chance of sneaking away unnoticed. She also had no intention of spending a night in his bed, for she feared the worst might happen. As she glanced around the tent, she looked for a blunt object that she could use to her advantage. As she pondered her choice of weapons, her eyes fell on a dagger lying on a pillow next to his armor. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"You have already done it once Briseis, it cant be any harder the second time around. " Although she was loathe to think of herself as a murderer, she knew that Achilles could very possibly be Agamemnon's key to winning the war, and killing her cousins and uncle. On its own accord, her legs carried her over to that side of the room, and her hand clenched around the dagger. At the same instant, she heard voices outside of her tent as Achilles bid goodnight to Eudorus.

"Do you think she is still in there?"

"Well I did not chain her up. Although with this many soldiers about, I cant imagine she would have risked leaving the tent." Briseis leaned towards the flap of the tent, curious as to her part in the men's conversation.

"Who do you suppose she is?" Eudorus asked, but Achilles only brushed away his question.

"She's a hellion who managed to kill one of Kale's men with his own knife. That would be enough to buy her a place of honor at my table." Briseis almost laughed at Achille's apparent distaste for his fellow soldiers.

"My lord, you know that Agamemnon sent out an order today that anything taken from Troy be brought before him first and foremost." Eudorus informed Achilles, a smile forming on his lips in anticipation of Achilles response.

"Because that pompous son of a pig's ass thinks he is deserving of the choicest treasures. She will not be brought anywhere near him, I guarantee you that Eudorus." Achilles snapped, a glint of anger appearing in his clear blue eyes.

"Kale has no doubt told Agamemnon of her presence here though." Eudorus pushed further, sharing in his leader's strong dislike of the arrogant king. Briseis blanched at the thought of appearing before the king, whose cruelty and greed precede him wherever he goes.

"Then Agamemnon may fetch her from my tent himself." Achilles whispered, the deadly light appearing in his eyes fro a moment before disappearing into his smile. The young priestess felt a twinge of guilt, before resolving herself that she could possibly be saving her beloved family's lives if she killed the war hero. "Sleep well Eudorus, for soon we seek our glory on these shores." With that said, Achilles pushed aside the flap and entered his tent.

As he scanned the dark tent for any signs of the woman, he heard a rustle behind him and turned to look into the wide eyes of the Trojan princess. "Do it." He whispered softly. Although his eyes were locked on hers, he felt the cold steel of the dagger against his throat. "Go on, end it."

In shock at the calm expression on his face, Briseis dropped the dagger from her shaking hand. Instantaneously, Achilles hand grabbed her own, and flipped her around him and onto her back on the bed."You hesitated. Never hesitate." Briseis was startled, for his tone was as steady as if he were lecturing a pupil. Her pride wounded, she wrenched a hand free and clawed at his face. Achilles eyes widened as her nails raked across his cheek, but a smile appeared on his face at the woman's boldness. Furious now at his apparent amusement, Briseis kicked up with both of her legs, striking Achilles in the shoulder and knocking him off of her and onto his back on the floor. He did not release her arms though, so she was dragged over top of him. As they fell her fingers locked around the handle of the dagger, and once again it was pressed up against his throat. Breathing heavily with her exertion, Briseis bravely stared Achilles in the eyes.

"I may have hestitated, but who is at the disadvantage now?" She sneered back at him, but his grin only widened.

"I believe that we are at a tie, although I could have already killed you if I so desired." Briseis opened her mouth to argue, but felt the sharp tip of a dagger against her side, and looked down to see that Achilles had her in an equally precarious position. Realizing that she was defeated and not wishing to spur his anger, she released the dagger willingly. In return, he slipped his back into his belt.

"You may unhand me you...you...monster" Briseis gritted out, angry at herself for not having acted when she
had the chance. Her anger disappated quickly into fear-- or what it something else?--when she saw the expression on Achilles face. His grip on her arms tightened, and he pulled her down into a kiss. Although she was prepared for rough contact, she was not prepared for the desperation present in the kiss, or the rush of heat that she felt in her cheeks as he kissed her. After a moment, he suddenly released her arms and she bolted upright and off of him. All the while, their eyes never left eachother, and a question passed between them. Who was asking whom though, Briseis was no longer sure.