Holding My Last Breath

Chapter Six- First of the Season

A month past since Achilles entered the city of Troy in Odysseus' pet design. He married Briseis less than two days after arriving in Phtia. Her background, she decided, was to be hidden. She was said to be a merchant's daughter he met while going to Troy. She found out fast that the people of Phtia didn't care much for her background, only that their Prince was actually married.

There were quite a few unhappy fathers once the news had spread. They all vied for their daughters to have the honor of legally sharing the bed of the great warrior. What made this woman different?

Thetis smiled and spoke softly "Things happen. You cannot control or predict all to the finest detail." The details of Achilles' death were obscure, but it was true. The Achilles she saw leave and never to return changed.

He now smiled....a real genuine smile. He was in good spirits constantly and never shyed from showing it. His attitude was still as arrogant annvulnvuluted as before, but over time, it softened and became less overbearing.

Briseis reveled in the attention he gave her. Achilles always held her in some way. His large, rough hands clasped around hers, fingers intertwining and locking together. He loved to play with her hair, combing, twirling, stroking it. At night, as they slept, his arms laid possessively across her.

Briseis loved it though; he loved her and made damn sure she knew it every minute of everyday. When he had to leave early for something, he left a rose on the pillow next to her. It didn't really do much to replace him, but she smiled and held it close everytime.

Briseis sat out on the sand, feet shifting the small grains between her toes. Her light blue dress shifted slightly in the cool breeze. It was still warm in Phtia, winter approaching slowly now. She could swim, but decided against it; she was waiting for Achilles to come back home.

Home, she thought. The feel of the floors beneath her bare feet, the way the sun danced down on the courtyard in the center of the palace, how the sheets of their bed were always soft and comfortable; it was amazing how quickly she adapted to it all. Brushing her hair back, she watched ships going in and out of the port.

A pair of eyes traced her back and she smiled. Achilles sat down next to her, knees up. He crossed his arms and leaned on them and his knees, watching her. Briseis didn't look at him at first, still watching one of the ships. He leaned over, nuzzling her neck playfully. Giggling, she turned to face him and was caught in a sweet kiss. Their lips lingered, eyes meeting and connecting.

"You have a habit of being alone," he said, touching the loose tendril on her face.

"You have a habit of fixing that," she smiled back. She leaned into his shoulder, arm looping through his. He pressed his lips to her head and looked to the sea. It was mid-afternoon and the clouds were gathering. Storms always preceded the winters and he could feel them building over them.

"I wanted to go for a ride today," he said, looking to her. She smiled and nodded. He stood and quickly helped her to her feet. They walked back towards the stables, kicking sand lightly. He bumped into her accidentally; Briseis pushed back lightly with a smile. He push again and it built up for a few moments. She gave him a final shove and ran ahead. Achilles followed, catching up quickly.

She felt his hand on her arm and tried to pull away. But hrip rip tightened and she spun into his arms, laughing and holding on so she wouldn't fall. He laughed lightly, pulling her into a deep, possessive kiss. It made him smile as she submitted so willingly to him. They reached the stables, placing Briseis on the horse before climbing on himself.

She leaned back into his chest as the winds kicked up on the sand. They rode quite a distance down the beach, past the ports ando aro areas she only saw from the ship. He rode on the water's edge, letting the spray wash over them. He took them to the very edge of the kingdom, stopping at the cliff that divided them from the next city.

One look at the sky and both realized that they had no time to dilly dally. Rain was setting in and they would be caught in it.

Riding back, the clouds burst and spilled out in heavy torrents. It soaked the two of them completely through. They picked up the speed and Briseis wrapped her hands around his which grasped the reigns.

After reaching the stable, they bolted into the palace and up to their room. Achilles worried as Briseis shivered from the cold water stuck against her skin. He quickly pulled his clothes off, helping her to undo the tie of her dress.

Once clothing was gone, he wrapped them in a warm blanket, holding her close. Her skin was pale and icy even after being in his arms for a while. It concerned him that she wasn't warming up.

"You alright?," he asked, looking down into her face. Her brown eyes were wide and awake from the cold as she nodded.

"Just cold," she whispered. His lips met hers, arms pulling her closer. He shifted, laying over her on the bed. The slick of their skin made the friction between skin disappear. He groaped and touched everything, moans and small gasps escaping her lips. He felt the rain water warm and mingle with sweat on her smooth body.

He held her hips tightly, rolling into her. Her body pressed against his, her nails digging into his back from the sensation. He moved very slowly, letting it wash over them completely. Briseis felt the cold slip from her body, waves of heat and euphoria slowly stretching through out her. The pace made drove her mad but she made no attempt to change it. The feeling within caused her to lose the ability to speak momentarily.

When he stiffened against her, she cried out loudly, screaming his name with the deepest passion. His hands pulled her hips as close as possible, eyes squeezed shut, face pressed against the curve of her neck. He never felt this way with any woman before her. Only in her arms, between her long silkly legs could he find this feeling of being complete.

They laid against the bed, breathing heavy and heated. Achilles indulged in running his finger tips over the curve of her hip and the dip of her waist. Her eyes were hooded, still unable to regain composure from his touch. When she did see again, the swirl of blue within his eyes made her heart flutter all over again.

************************************
Briseis woke up abruptly. She didn't jump, but her eyes shot open for some reason. She blinked a few times, eyes adjusting to the light given off by lightening. She shifted, turning towards Achilles. He was fast asleep, breathing slowly and softly. Her hand ran through his hair lightly, running the entire line of his jaw upon return.

She saw him like this only once before. It was the night before Patroclus was killed. She couldn't get to sleeespiespite being exhausted. She laid still in his arms, waiting for the even breathing and warmth that occurs when in deep sleep. Turning her head slightly, she watched him for the longest time. Here and now, he looked the same, only more beautiful.

In the pale light of the moon, he looked like a young boy. His chisled features where soft instead of weatherbeaten; his hair much lighter, looking almost the color of puffy clouds. It was in that moonlight that the features of the man she now lived with were revealed.

Briseis could tell you that he was kind, caring and affection just from the way he looked in his sleep. But life had an odd way of reinforcing stereotypes, his being the persona he lived everyday for most of his life.

Achilles moved lightly, arms pulling her closer to him. She slid against him, pressing her head into his muscular chest. His arm crossed her and gently stroked her back in habitual manner. Whatever woke her quickly disappeared and she fell back to sleep.