I Will Always Find You in the End

Achilles had died. The prophecy concerning his fate had finally been fulfilled.

He could've stayed at Greece and lived a happy and long life instead of going to war. But here he is now, standing at the Styx, waiting to be boated across where he would spend the rest of eternity.

Achilles knew he would have a trial and that the three judges would most likely deem him a hero and ship him off to Elysium, but in all honesty, he just wanted to find Patroclus.

Patroclus.

The other man had been his lifelong companion, their relationship going past that of casual friends. He had stood beside Achilles when he went to war, he had known him so well and tried to make him feel better when he knew the other was unhappy. They both knew that they had a bond that ran deeper than normal - it saddened Achilles because he had only realized it was there once Patroclus was dead. He had felt that bond break that day and he knew that the only way to restore it was by finding Patroclus among the other dead in the Underworld.

Patroclus had died a hero and deserved Elysium as well. He had saved many lives inside and outside of battle and had donned Achilles' armor for the sake of the Greek victory – he had died for the Greek victory as well.

Achilles looked up when he saw Charon, the god that would take him to the Underworld, approach. He silently swore to himself that he would find Patroclus here, no matter what it took, even if it cost him everything he had left.

He gave Charon coins that the other Greek warriors had laid upon him when he had died and stepped into the boat. They glided to the Underworld on the murky Styx water.

Achilles has no memories of the experience, but he does know that his mother had dipped him into the water at a young age to protect him. He sighs to himself as he remembers how Patroclus was the only one that knew of his weak spot, the one place he was vulnerable. That was how he had died. Paris had taken an arrow and hit him in that one weak spot. How he managed that, Achilles could only think that it was the help of gods.

He would never admit it to anyone (except Patroclus) that he was actually glad to have died. He had gotten his revenge on Hector and had aided the Greeks in their path to victory. He was still slightly pissed at Agamemnon though.

The boat Charon guides hit the banks of the Styx once again and Achilles saw the gates of the Underworld before him. He saw Cerberus guarding them, even more fearful than the paintings portray him.

The dog's three heads had turned when they smelled the warrior, and all three heads had followed his path through the gates of the Underworld.

Achilles has heard what happens next to the dead: they stand before a panel consisting of three judges that decide where in the Underworld they go to.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Achilles saw the three judges – Aeacus, Minos, and Rhadamanthus – appear before him.

Achilles wondered what he should say to them when one of the judges – he thinks it was Minos, but he could be wrong – looked down at him and smiled. "So Achilles, you have finally died." His voice boomed out and seemed to echo around the area; Achilles couldn't tell if they were in a room or an open space which made the fact that his voice sounded like it echoed even more of a mystery.

The other two judges stared at Achilles with unnerving gazes as the first one continued to speak: "As the son of the goddess Thetis and great-grandson to King Zeus as well as a noble Greek warrior in many wars, we find that you have played your part in history as a hero and shall give you rights to the Elysian Fields." The other two judges nodded in agreement at Achilles' newfound fate.

Before he could say anything or ask them about Patroclus, Achilles found himself standing on the island known as Elysium.

The spirits that floated around him looked happy and bright. Contrary to what people in the mortal world believed, you can see dead spirits' faces. That only made Achilles' self-proclaimed mission easier.