A/N: I don't own Troy, simple and short.
Briseis held tightly to the sheets wrapped around her. A river of tears flowed freely from her eyes. She was grieving, grieving for her cousin and her lover. In her heart she knew she would never seem Achilles again. Her love of him was forbidden, even though no one knew about it. Since returning to Troy, she had spoken little to anyone, especially her family. No one knew how much she hurt.
Why? Why do I have to love him? He killed my cousin! Yet, he protected me and told me that he would give everything up for me. I still love him. It's wrong though, but it feels right. For the first time in my life, I feel complete when I'm with him. This is not fair!
The words played over and over in her head. She made a vow when she entered the temple of Apollo that she would remain a virgin until she died. Now that vow was broken because of the nights in Achilles's tent. However, she did not regret a moment of it. As she laid in her bed, she knew that every moment she was away from him was another moment spent in agony of never knowing if he really did love her. She flew from her bed and ran down the hallway to her cousin, Paris's room, and knocked softly on the door. Paris answered the door.
"Yes, cousin. What is the matter?" he asked, concerned.
"May I speak with Helen alone please?" she asked in reply.
"Certainly, I'll go down to the kitchen for something to drink. Take as long as you need. She's just inside," he answered.
"Thank you cousin," she said.
Paris walked down the hall and Briseis slipped into his room to talk to Helen. She was sitting up on their bed when Briseis came inside. Softly, she motioned for Briseis to come forward and sit beside her. Briseis sat beside her. For a moment she was silent and said nothing at all. Finally, her resolve wore down and she began to sob. Helen reached forward and took her cousin into her arms. For, as little as Briseis had told her family, Helen knew exactly what was bothering Briseis.
"You don't need to feel guilty, you know," Helen said after a while. "Love is not a crime that can be punished."
"What?" Briseis asked, pulling out of Helen's arms, confused.
"I know you are in love with Achilles," Helen replied.
"How did you know?" Briseis inquired.
"Well, when you came back to us, you refused to talk about anything that happened while you were in the Greek camp, so I figured you fell in love with the man who you were with, which happened to be Achilles," Helen explained.
"I do love him!" Briseis exclaimed.
"If you want to tell me all that happened, you can. If not, I understand. Sometimes these things can be extremely hard to understand why they happen, but if we trust in the gods, then they will make sense," Helen said.
Briseis took a deep breath and began to explain what happened to her, "When the temple of Apollo was attacked, I was taken prisoner and brought to Achilles's tent as a prize. All he asked for was my name. I didn't tell him, but he insisted, so I told him. Then he was summoned to Agamemnon's tent, so he left. When he left, two men came inside his tent and untied me and drug me to Agamemnon's tent where we waited outside to be let inside. After being let inside, he tortured Achilles by telling him that I was to be Agamemnon's slave. Achilles was fully prepared to kill anyone and everyone in that room to protect me. I told him no, that too many men had died that day, so I was taken into Agamemnon's quarters. For days I was kept prisoner and Agamemnon taunted me with threats of taking my virtue, although he never did. However, when the Greek soldiers' morale became weak, he left me to them. They beat me and were about to rape me when Achilles came out of nowhere and saved me. He brought me back to his tent where he tended to my wounds."
"And that's when you fell in love with him?" Helen interjected.
"Not right then. I was furious at men in general. I said some pretty harsh things, but he was kind to me. He explained things about the gods that I had never thought of. He told me that the gods envy us because we're mortal, that we will never be more perfect than we are now. He made me think about everything I had thought before. He went to sleep that night and I stayed awake, thinking about all the things he had said to me. While he was sleeping, I grabbed a knife and decided to end all the suffering of my countrymen. I put it to his neck and was going to kill him. As soon as I put it to his neck, he said for me to do it. I asked him if he was afraid and he said that everyone dies, whether it's now or fifty years from now. From there, he pulled me down and kissed me. I lost all control in that kiss. He turned me over and I dropped the knife. He pulled up my dress and I didn't fight it or try to get away. It felt right. I gave him my virtue freely. From then on, I was his and he was mine," Briseis explained. "After Hector was killed, I refused to share his bed. I was so upset and he understood. He never forced me. When Uncle Priam found me, he let me go and asked for my forgiveness for any pain he caused me. As I left, he pressed his cousin, Patroclus's shell necklace into my hands."
"Sounds like he really loves you," Helen said.
"But how can I love him when he killed one of my own family?" Briseis asked.
"Love does not know judgment nor family lines," Helen said. "You cannot choose who you love. The gods know what is best."
"Do they know what problems it causes to fall in love with your family's enemy?" Briseis inquired.
"To them, love knows no boundaries," Helen said.
"I don't know what to do," Briseis cried.
"Follow your heart, no matter what the consequences may be. I left my home for Paris. I was married and yet I still left," Helen said.
"Then I know what I must do," Briseis said. "I'm going back to him, tonight."
"I understand your decision and I promise not to stop you," Helen said comfortingly. "Go to him. If he loves you, then he will stop at nothing to protect you and keep you."
"I know he does," Briseis said, smiling.
"He is like my Paris," Helen mused.
"Thank you," Briseis said, hugging her cousin and getting up.
"Your welcome," Helen replied.
Briseis left the room and walked back down the hall to her own room. She quickly gathered what little she could fit in a tiny bundle, which included a few dresses and some jewels. Within a few minutes, she was ready to leave. Just as the palace was settling down for the night, Briseis slipped out of her room and ran down the hall, pass Paris and Helen's room, the kitchen, and out into the stables. There was an opening at the back of the stables just big enough for her to fit through.
The sands on the beach were soft to her feet through her sandals. She felt at ease with her decision as she neared the Greek camp. The tents were still up, but all the men were sleeping. Within minutes, she found Achilles's tent and crept inside. In the dim light, she saw his form sleeping on the bed. His chest was bare with a sheet wrapped around his waist. As gently was possible, she slipped into the bed on the other side. Her tension disappeared as soon as she laid her head on the pillow next to Achilles. Sleep soon took over as her eyes drifted shut. Achilles sensed motion on the bed and opened his eyes moments later and saw her petite form lying next to him. Knowing she was asleep, he softly inched next to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. He lovingly moved her hair and kissed the nape of her neck. The scent in her hair, jasmine, was intoxicating to him. No matter how much he would deny it, he had missed her. There would be time for questions later, for now he let her sleep in the comfort of his arms.
A/N: This is just the first chapter, so please don't judge it too harshly just yet. Let me know if you like it and whatnot.