Long time no see. I decided to give this fanfiction any other shot after all these years. I don't know if any one will be reading this and I apologize for any spelling mistakes I had in this story, and the ones I will undoubtedly make moving forward. My goal is to finish this story because Troy is one of my favorite movies (even though it doesn't follow the myth much). I hope you enjoy and write a review if you have any ideas for the story as you read. I love hearing others' ideas and it's been a while since I have written stories.
Achilles came back to the camp victorious and was very pleased with himself with how he dealt with the Trojan Prince, and the message he relayed to Helen. Achilles was sure his sister would hit him if she knew what he said but 'what she doesn't know wont hurt her… or me.'
As he walked Achilles continued to hear is name chanted by the other Greek soldiers and others were coming up to him, concragalating him on his victory and veracity as a fighter, including the mighty Ajax with whom his cousin so admired. When he saw Odysseus he couldn't help but cajole him for his slow sailing and the convenient way he missed the battle for the beach, Not that he seemed to mind much as if the smile on his face had anything to show for it. It made Achilles grin a bit by not as much as seeing Korinna and Patchocles with Endurious near his tent.
"Brother!" Korinna shouted above the crowd and launched herself in her brother's arms, pleased that he was still alive and well.
"Beloved sister." Achilles answered, kissing the top of her head and pushing her slightly away from him as he was still covered in gore. " I am glad to see you are well. I see Patchocles proved to be a great guard of the ship. I thank you my cousin." Achilles stated greeting his cousin with a playful punch of his shoulder. Patochles beamed with the praise and fluffed up like a preening peacock, making Korinna laugh. Enduros broke up the playful reunion sadly.
"My ledge there is something I need to show you…. Alone."
"Right. Korinna have Patcholes help you set up your tent next to mine. I don't want anyone sneaking into your tent at night. Hopefully with me close it won't be a concern."
"I doubt it would be a concern with the other Mermadons around but I see you point. Pat can you help me? We can set up your next to mine as well. This is my first time on the battlefield and I would feel better with you close by." Korinna diplomatically said to Patcholes to get him to agree. She already knew his pride was hurt because of the boats. She'd rather keep his fluffed feathers and deal with what Enduros was trying to hide from her later. Patcholes nodded in agreement and walked off.
"This better be good Endorious."
"I have no doubt it warrants your immediate attention… without your sister's eyes."
The two men walked up to Achilles tent that the men set up for him. When Achilles saw what was inside he almost rolled his eyes and immediately went for the wine sack. There in his tent was a captured girl in a priestess garb, clearly from the temple we just sacked. 'If korinna sees this she'll skin me, it one thing to sack the temple but another to keep a priestess captured. She may be upset with the gods but this might be too far.'
"The men found her hiding in the temple. They thought she might… amuse you," Enduros said with a knowing chuckle and left shortly after, leaving Achilles and the girl alone. Achilles barely noticed and went about his disrobing and cleaning as the blood was starting to dry on his skin and make it itchy.
"What is your name?" he said as he went about his task, unnoticing of the priestess's growing discomfort of his increasingly naked body being exposed to her. Achilles would have laughed at the sight if he wasn't too tired and bored. When he was met with silenced he asked: " Did you not hear me? I asked what is your name."
"You killed Apollo's priest." THe girl said in a nervous and slightly shrill voice.
"I killed men in five countries, none of them were priests-"
"Then your men did…. Apollo will have his vengeance."
"His priests are dead and his priestess is captured… I think your god is afraid of me and for good reason."
"You're nothing but a killer! You wouldn't know anything about the gods!"
"I know more about the gods then you and your priests, I've seen them…. Your royalty aren't you? You've spent years talking down to men like they are nothing… I have too." Achilles took up a piece of the girls hair and smelled the lingering scent of rose and lavender water clinging to the wool soft locks " You must be royalty. What's your name?" Achilles dropped the lock and when he continued to be met with silence he started until the girl's wrists. "Even priestesses of the gods have names."
"Berisies." The girls said in contempt, rubbing her bruised and red wrists. 'Those must sting, I doubt she used to treatment like this.'
"Are you afraid Berisies?"
"Should I be?" Berisies asked quietly and for the first time Achilles did not have an answer to give. Lucky Enduious came back in to save him, or so Achilles thought.
"My ledge Agamemnon as request your presents. All the kings are gathering to pay tribute to his victory today…. I thought it best to tell you and not Korinna. I don't think it is wise she'd go."
"No I think , bring Korinna in here. Our guest is injured." Achilles said deep in thought. He did not want to go in front of the pig but he wanted his sister to do so even less.
"Yes my lord." Endious said but before he could leave achilles stopped him.
"You fought well today Endurious."
"Thank you my lord." Endurious nodded and left, pleased with the praise but knowing his princess would not be happy with the state of their new guest.
"What did you come here for? You didn't come here for the Spartan Queen." Bersies said almost knowingly, curious about who this Korinna was. 'His wife maybe… why would a soldier bring his wife to a battlefield?'
"I want what all men want, I just want it more…. You don't have to fear me girl, You are the only Trojan who can say that." Achilles said angrily and moved to storm out when his saw his sister enter, blocking his path and escape, "The men brought her to me, she was in the temple today,"
"I can see that." Korinna said, not altogether mad but not pleased either. She clearly thought Bersies should have been allowed to run back to the city and not be captured or worse.
"Please see what you can do to help her," Achilles said and moved around his sister. Korinna knew he didn't have ill intent but that he felt uncomfortable with the situation at hand,
'When he can't win it with a sword, he runs away, My brother has no stomach for politics.' Korinna thought as she watched her brother go and then turned her attention to Bersies. "It looks like you've been through an adventure worse than mine. I don't envy you for it." Korinna said as she moved the water picture down closer to the girl and sat on the ground. "Though, I have never been to war before so I don't really know what to expect. Can I see your hands?"
Berseies did what was asked almost on instinct. "Who are you."
"I'm Korinna, and you?"
"Bersies."
"It's nice to meet you Bersies. I am only sorry about the circumstance." Korinna then wordlessly went on to clean Bersies wounds with the water, They weren't so bad that Korinna worried about infection but she'd rather they be clean."
"Why are you here? I can't imagine you are a fighter like your husband and I know of no wives following their husbands to war."
Korinna almost doubled over laughing. "Achilles isn't my husband, he is my brother and no he wasn't happy about me coming; however, he had little choice in the matter."
"That was Achilles? Achilles is your brother?" Bersies said in alarm. She heard stories of the warrior but thought he'd be a lonesome beast and not anyone with family, least of all one so seemingly kind.
"Yes to both those questions. I take it that you didn't think it of him to be related to someone like me?"
"Something like that."
"Something my mother always said, there is more to things that meets the eye." Korrina stood up and put the water pitcher back but before she could do much else two Greek soldiers, not hers either, stormed into the tent. "What are you doing here!" Korinna order but was immediately met with a smack in the face that sent her flying into the table where her brother's armor sat. The two soldiers rushed to Bersies without a second thought and grabbed the now struggling priestess. Korinna got up and attempted to help her new acquaintance by taking her brother's shield and hitting the soldier closest to her with it. The soldier was startled but soon became angry and grabbed the shield and swung it and Korinna out the door while still having a hold of the priestess's struggling arm. His partner laughing the way out of the tent at the whole situation.
"It looks like Achilles's whores are close to each other," the soldier who Korinna was trying to fight said as he tossed Korinna and the shield into the sand outside the tent, in front of the Myrmidons who were oblivious until now of what was going on. "I wonder if he's still have you if I had a little fun." The soldier let go of Bersies's arm, knowing his partner could handle the weak girl and drew his sword towards Korinna who was still on the ground.
"I don't think that would be wise." Enduros said as all the Mermaids came running to the scene, swords drawn and angry expressions on their face with the audacity of this man laying a hand on their princess.
"We are here on Agamemnon's business," the soldier whose sword is out stated.
"Oh, and what business is that?" Patcholese asked, moving to stand next to Korinna who was standing up by this time.
"Agamemnon requested us to bring the girl you took from Apollo's temple, this harlot was trying to stop us." The soldier holding Bersies stated.
"This… harlot is Princess Korinna of Pitha and you will treat her with more respect, unless you'd like not to live long enough to carry out your request." Endurious stated moving to stand next to the princess opposite Patcholces and watching the soldier's faces whiten, realizing their horrible mistake. Bersies halted her own struggles at this time realizing that the girl she was talking to was also royalty.
"Though he will be hearing of you striking that threatening his beloved sister, You might want us to kill you now with what he'll do to you when he finds out." Patchocles said grabbing his cousin's arm gently seeing the bruise forming on the opposite side of her face.
"We don't want any trouble." the soldier holding Bersies said " we are just trying to complete a task."
"Then complete it and be on your way." Endurius said as he saw the soldiers rush away taking the girl with them.
"Why are they taking her?" Korinna asked,
"Who knows. It looks like Agamemnon is trying to upset your brother,"
"What's going to happen to her?" Korinna asked as Endurus and Patchocles moved her hair out of her face to look at her injuries. The bruise that was forming was going to cover the whole right side of her face and both of them knew that those men were going to die by the marrow because of it, they also knew better than to truthfully answer their princess's question, lest she realize how wretched men can really be,
"I'm sure she'll be fine. Come let's go to your tent and wait for your brother."
"No…. I am not going to sit here helpless. I know I cannot aid in helping Bersies but I can go find fresh water and herbs, You lot have injures too." Korinna said rushedly speedily walking next to her tent and grabbing the bow and arrow that were placed there and headed out away from the camps. The men knew that the princess's pride was hurt and knew better than to follow. Their were no soldiers stationed the way she was going and she would be back soon.
"Agamemnon is not doing himself any favors." Said Patchocles.
"May the Gods help him."