Timeless Warrior

Failed Diplomacy

Ch. 3

After explaining to Patroclus that the Trojan girl was not to be touched and needed to be hidden from the eyes of the other Greeks, Perseus walked out to the shore where his brother stood waiting for the first of their Greek allies to come ashore.

"How exactly do you plan to hide her from the other Greeks for the duration of the war?" Perseus asked.

Achilles shrugged, "She will stay in my tent. Anyone foolish enough to enter my tent without my permission will quickly learn how big of a mistake they made."

Perseus nodded, expecting that answer before he smirked a bit, "She's awfully cute. Are you sure that's the only reason you want her in your tent?" He said elbowing Achilles playfully in the ribs.

Achilles scowled but Perseus knew his brother well enough to tell he had managed to embarrass him a bit.

"You'll need to be careful. Others will want to take her for a war prize." Perseus said scowling a bit.

Achilles eyes narrowed. He was not going to let that happen. He and his brother were never ones to take woman against their wills like most would.

The reason? Simple, they didn't need to. That, and their mother had taught them to treat women with some respect.

As both brothers were silent, lost in their own thoughts, the first of their Greek allies stepped onto the shores of Troy, led by the King Agamemnon and a contingent of his advisers followed closely by the other kings of Greece.

Agamemnon had a scowl clearly evident on his face as both sons of Thetis tried to contain their amusement at the angry face of one of their least favorite allies.

"How exactly was your ship able to get ashore without the help of any winds?" The king of Mycenae growled.

Perseus raised an eyebrow.

"Winds? I have no idea what it is your speaking about my lord." He said in a mocking tone of voice.

Achilles barely managed to keep a serious face, "Yes, the winds were quite strong. Perhaps not all of us thought it wise to claim to be an equal in hunting to the goddess of the hunt? Perhaps she rewards those who do not think themselves above the gods."

Agamemnon narrowed his eyes at both sons of Thetis but they responded with cheeky grins before turning their backs on the king, not catching his quickly reddening face.

The brothers made their way into the tent of Achilles, Perseus trailing behind his brother. The minute Achilles stepped inside he was knocked back as a blade was driven into his chest.

As his brother stumbled back, Perseus had his blade out in a flash and at the throat of his brother's attacker only to find the slender form of Brisēís looking at the broken dagger in shock.

Perseus narrowed his eyes grabbed the niece of Priam by the front of her blouse and pulled her towards the tent entrance.

"Would you like me to give you someone else? I promise Agamemnon and his men would not be as kind as my brother and I." He growled at the terrified girl.

Brisēís looked as pale as a ghost as she looked at Perseus' furious expression and the unharmed Achilles who looked slightly offended she had stabbed him.

"Peace brother." Achilles said placing a hand on Perseus' shoulder. "She is acting no differently than we would in her place."

Perseus let go of the girl's shirt and slowly nodded, "My apologies Brisēís. I simply do not take kindly to my brother being stabbed. But he is right; I cannot blame you for trying."