This is my first fanfic so PLEASE let me know what you think! I am 100% open to ideas and suggestions and help and anything. OH and of course, I own none of these characters except for Adara but you can always use her if you want:) The genius Homer came up with these beautiful characters.

SHORT plot summary: Adara has served as Briseis' handmaiden for as long as she can remember. However, her life is turned upside down when the Achaeans come and destroy her hometown, dragging her and Briseis into the midst of the Trojan War. Will Adara learn to deal with her new captors Achilles and Patroclus and can she manage to survive the war with her life?

Chapter 1

They came at night after all of the party had ended.

She and Briseis had just returned from the feast, their heads light with wine and their hearts hammering away in their chest. Giggles filled the bed chambers as Adara helped her lady undress, the golden fabrics falling to the floor with soft whooshes. Sitting on a trunk at the end of her bed, Briseis had leaned against Adana, her bare skin dotted with goose bumps and her cheeks flushed a rosy red. She smiled as Briseis rambled on about the night they had just had.

"It was lovely, was it not, Adara?" Briseis sighed wistfully, her green eyes lost in thought about the feast on a couple hours previous.

"Yes, my lady," Adara replied quietly, untying Briseis' dark hair from its complicated up-do. "Your husband seemed quite pleased; the men present were quiet taken with you." At this, the dark haired girl waved an airy hand as if to say, I don't care.

"As if I cared, Adara. They are just as horrid as my husband. If I was not pretty, Mynes would never have sought my hand in marriage," she huffed, glancing at her reflection in the mirror, but Adara knew that she was bursting with pride. It's true, Adara thought. Briseis was not smart or cunning or even funny, but she was more beautiful than all of the women in Lyrnessus; a fact that she never forgot. However, Adara smiled and patted the Queen's hair.

"That is not true, Lady Briseis, your husband loves you very much," Adara murmured, and then before the Queen could argue, she changed the subject. "The dance tonight was lovely."

"Yes, it was, wasn't it," the lady mused, her green eyes once again fading into memory. "Who was that man you danced with, Adara?" Briseis asked only a moment later, the corners of her mouth turning up in a sly grin. Blushing deeply, Adara once again busied herself with Briseis' hair. As the Queen waited for her reply, there came a crash from a distant part of the castle.

"Ah, that will be the cook. Zeus knows he had enough drink tonight for five men," Briseis grumbled, and then glancing at Adara in the mirror, she again asked her who she had danced with that night.

"His name is, Malthus. He is a captain of the guard," Adara whispered quietly. Blushing deeply again, Adara lost herself in reverie over the strong young man with raven colored hair and eyes like chestnuts. As the Queen's handmaiden, she was not supposed to participate in the festivities. It was her job to await her Lady until she was ready to go or unless she was required to retrieve something for her. But then Malthus had approached and asked her for a dance and she had forgotten all about her duties. Adara smiled slightly, remembering how the firelight had seemed to dance in his eyes and the strong musky scent that radiated off of him. Suddenly, there was a crash from the castle once more, this time closer, and Adara was pulled back to the present. Glancing in the mirror, she saw Briseis staring at her.

"He was very handsome, Adara," the Queen said gently, taking her hand and giving it a slight squeeze. Adana felt her cheeks burn as blood rushed to her face.

"It's no matter," she stated, her tone becoming matter of fact, stooping to pick up Briseis' dress and fold it. Yet another crash sounded throughout the castle and the Queen rolled her eyes.

"You know, Adara, you have every right to be happy," Briseis' said, rolling her eyes as Adara helped her put her robe on.

"My duty is to you, my lady," she murmured deftly, tying the sash around Briseis' narrow waist. Feeling a pair of hands come to rest on her shoulders, Adana looked up into the glowing green eyes of Briseis.

"Do you love him?" She demanded. Adara shrugged, shocked by the suddenness of the question. It was true, she thought him handsome and kind, but did she love him? It does not matter. I cannot marry and so I should do my best to forget about him.

"Oh you do!" The young queen exclaimed, sweeping Adara up in her arms and spinning her around in a circle. "Don't be upset, every girl should love someone."

"And what about the law? I am forbidden to-"

"Forget about the law. I am Queen, and if you want to get married I will ensure that it happens," she said, positively beaming with happiness for her young handmaiden. "I will talk to Mynes in the morn," she said, tossing herself onto the bed, her body stiff with wine. Adara felt her face break out into a smile as she thought about her captain of the guard. Would he want to marry also? It isn't like he will have much choice is the Queen requests it. Shoving aside these dark thoughts, Adara instead focused on the few words they had shared a couple days before…

They stood in the kitchen, both of them waiting for the bread to finishing cooking so that they might eat it while it was fresh. Adara had been warming herself by the fire when he spoke to her.

"What sends you to the kitchens, Adara?" Malthus had asked, coming to stand next to her, his bronze armor glowing with firelight. Surprised by his outgoing nature and by the fact that he had known her name, Adara's gaze had fallen to the floor.

"Excuse me sir, but I am not acquainted with your name," she had replied, her voice strained. Men never spoke to her, fearing the what the Queen would say. Laughing at her comment, Malthus had stepped closer.

"My name is Malthus. I am a captain of the guard." At this statement, Adara had sighed with relief. They were of equal social class and so able to speak to each other freely.

"You know, there are rumors that the handmaiden of the Queen is more beautiful than her royal highness herself," he had whispered, his brown eyes glancing around so that no one would hear his treacherous words. Her breath caught in her throat and her mind froze.

"Those are dangerous words Captain of the Guard," she had answered, her body cold even with the proximity of the fire.

"Do not worry, I favor my position too much to risk someone hearing such a thing," he said cheerfully, stepping back. Adara let out a sigh of relief and for the first time turned to glance up at the handsome young man. She remembered how her heart had stopped at his beauty and how her lips had involuntarily curled into a smile.

"There are also rumors of the captain of the guard," she had teased, stepping away from the fire to wander through the tables.

"Oh really?" Malthus asked, raising an eyebrow and turning to watch her.

"Yes, they say he does not compete in wrestling matches because he is worried he will lose his teeth and his hair will be ripped out," she said, smirking at him. Malthus had looked back at her aghast, and then much to her surprise, pulled back his gums to reveal an empty space where his last molar should have been.

"I guess they weren't entirely wrong were they," he said blushing, covering the spot where his tooth was missing. Suddenly, Adara heard her named called from the hallway. Giving the captain a slight bow, she had turned to leave when his hand closed on her wrist.

"You know," he whispered, his breath warm on the side of her face. "The rumors they say about you are not false either. Best be careful the Queen never recognizes your true beauty." And with that he had released her…

Adara was pulled from her memory as a scream came from the hall followed by several thuds and the banging sound of metal hitting metal. Getting to her feet, Adara felt her heart pick up speed and her breath become short and uneven. She moved with unsteady steps to stand in front of Briseis who was still laying on her bed as if she could hear nothing. Blood pounding in her ears, she almost didn't hear the footsteps right before the door slammed open.

"Adara?" A deep, shaking voice called out.

"Malthus!" She said, throwing herself into the waiting arms of the dark hair guard. However, as she melted into his grasp, she realized that he was coated in a sticky substance. Pulling back, she glanced down to see that her gown was ruined; it was covered in blood.

Trying took keep from retching, Adara breathed in through her mouth so she would not have to smell bitter, metallic smell that clung to Malthus.

"Adara, we need to go. You and the Queen are not safe here anymore. There are strange men here, from Troy we think," he said, grabbing her wrist firmly and beginning to pull her towards the back entrance.

However, before they could take another step Adara felt Malthus' grip on her arm loosen and then he slipped away completely, a moment later landing with a thud on the floor—three arrows protruded from his back. Freezing, Adara felt adrenaline overtaking her systems and force her to forget her grief and react. Turning to face the door, she watched as several soldiers piled through the door, their black armor foreign and alarming to her. One of the men carried a large ashen bow, an arrow notched and pointed at her. Behind her, Adara could here Briseis sitting up on the bed, her movements hardly making a sound.

The soldiers wasted no time, taking to the trunks and pots and chests, opening and breaking and stealing anything of value. Adara stood in the middle of the swirling chaos, watching as her world crumbled around her. As the soldiers ransacked the Queen's chambers, Adara watched as the doors opened again and a young man most certainly her age entered, his black armor crimson with blood and his helmet tucked under his arm. She felt as if her eyes were drawn to his sparkling blond hair which stood out in contrast to the typical black haired Achaeans. He surveyed the organized destruction, his blue eyes scanning the room until they can to rest on Adara and then Briseis, his eye brows shooting up. Calling to one of the soldiers, Adara heard the young man shout an order and then watched as the soldier scurried down the hall.

Turning back to look at her, Adara shivered as the blonde man approached her, his sandals leaving bloody footprints on the tile. Coming to halt before her, Adara willed herself to look into his ocean blue eyes, her body shaking with fear.

"Are you the Queen that Mynes attempted to trade for the safety of the kingdom, or is she?" The young man asked, nodding his head to Briseis.

"I am," Adara blurted out before she could stop herself. Glancing over her shoulder at Briseis she stared at the Queen, willing her to be silent. Let me protect you. Let them kill me instead she pleaded with her eyes, but the Queen would have none of it.

"Adara I will not let you risk yourself for me," she whispered, and then turning to face the young soldier, "I am the Queen, wife of King Mynes," Briseis said regally, getting to her feet and glaring at the young soldier with hate in her eyes.

"King Mynes is dead," a loud voice said, echoing through the room. Silence fell as all faces turned to look at the front of the bedchambers.

Standing just inside the room was the most beautiful man Adara had ever seen. His blood soaked blond hair still glistened as if the sun was shining on it even though it was nearing midnight. Tanned skin was pulled taught over thick muscles full rosy lips curled down in a grimace. Adara saw that he was bleeding from two cuts on his upper arm, but the man seemed not to notice them.

"He died with all the honors of a king," he said quietly, almost gently, to Briseis. Adara watched the queen receive this news, her face barely flickering. She had never loved Mynes.

"Why have you come to destroy my city?" Briseis demanded of the soldier.

"We needed your city, or, we needed what your city had to offer," the great man replied.

"May I speak with you? I would like to discuss the safety of the woman and children that live here," Briseis began, but the beautiful man interrupted her.

"I am afraid there is no use." At this, Briseis stormed over to him, but Adara lost interest as the soldiers around her returned to pillaging.

Turning to look at the floor, Adara's eyes landed on Malthus' body. Suddenly she felt drained as a wave of grief consumed her. As if time had slowed, she came to kneel beside his body, her hazel eyes blurring with tears. Malthus was gone—her Malthus. She could hear Briseis' words from what felt like years ago. You have every right to be happy. Reaching out with a hesitant hand, Adara tucked a lock of Malthus' raven hair behind his ear, her tears falling shamelessly onto the floor and mingling with the blood. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his forehead before sending silent prayer to the gods. How could she insure that he got a proper burial? Without the rites, he would never reach the Underworld. Without the rites, we would be cursed to remain on this earth forever; gone but unable to move on.

Suddenly, she felt an arm slide roughly around her waist. Jerked to her feet, Adara struggled against the tight grip of one of the soldiers.

"Thought we forgot about you? No, no," a sinister voice chuckled. Adara felt her back slam against a wall and a pair of hungry hands grope at her body. She screamed and thrashed under the man's grip, only causing him to press her hard against the hard stone wall.

And then, the man just fell away and Adara felt herself slump to the floor. Panting, a gentle sent of hands grabbed her forearms and pulled her to her feet. In a moment of confusion, Adara mistook the battle worn palms for Malthus', but them remembering his fate, she jerked away form who ever held her now. However, the man did not let go and so Adara fell limp in his grasp once more. Looking up, she saw the beautiful blond man. The one that killed the king she thought venomously.

"It is time to go," he said so gently that Adara's eyes widened in shock. However, her eyes returned once more to Malthus' dead body and she began to struggle.

"Malthus…" she moaned, her body sore and broken with grief. The blond man glanced at the body. "Bury him. Promise me, you will… bury…" Adara felt herself losing conscience as the strong arms scooped her up off of the floor.

The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was a pair of blue eyes the color of summer and a strong voice saying, "Patroclus, make sure that body is buried."