Achilles

    Thirteen Years Before

    They came upon Athens at twilight. Athens' walls were near ruin already and come morning, they would be gone entirely. While they'd been on the march towards Athens' destruction, the citizens of the city seemed to have done little to fortify it against the approaching invaders, even though they had to have known an invasion was coming. If rumors were true, Theseus wasn't even here to defend his kingdom.

    Nobody knew where he was. In the absence of their king what was left of the army was scrambling to come up with adequate defenses. Reports had come in from the scouts that large numbers of soldiers and citizens had begun abandoning the city. From the invaders' position on the hill outside the city, Athens looked half deserted. The invaders would face a small, but determined and loyal contingent of troops once the battle began. The ships from the kingdom of Ithaca hadn't met them yet and they were feared to have been lost in the storm at sea. Even without those additional numbers the invaders had strength enough to break the city.

    Tyndareus was anxious to retrieve his daughter and return to Sparta as soon as possible. For that reason it was decided the host would attempt a frontal assault of the city. The gates of Athens had long been in disrepair and should fall with relative ease. It was agreed they would attack at dawn and the soldiers laughed saying the battle would be over before the ninth hour of the morning.

    This left Achilles grumbling. He was anxious to prove himself in combat, short as it might be. As he sat polishing Patroclus' armor, the boy thought of his mother of all things. Upon his return she promised to show him her ocean grotto. Achilles had swam with his mother in the sea many times, but he was limited to a single breath hold when exploring the world under the waves.

    Thetis was confident Achilles had inherited enough power that he should have a second form to morph into. Try as he might, Achilles had failed so far to morph into anything but a lion. It was a powerful form to be sure, but if he had even one additional form then perhaps his power would eventually grow so he might take any form, or so Achilles wished. Patroclus insisted Achilles' new powers be kept secret, and had forbidden Achilles to experiment after he caught Achilles hunting in his beast form.

    "Catch!" Patroclus' voice yelled from beyond the light of the fire.

    Achilles looked up just in time to see a long thin object soaring through the air towards him. Achilles sprang up and caught the spear in his dominant left hand. As the weapon settled in his grip, Achilles noticed the weight felt off. Not unbalanced but it was heavier than a spear should have been. Achilles looked down and saw he didn't hold a spear at all. Patroclus had thrown a trident at him, but a trident larger than those used by fisherman but slightly shorter than a standard issue spear. This made the trident only a head taller than Achilles currently was. The end of the trident without tines terminated in a spear point. It was a formidable weapon, dangerous at both ends.

    "I thought that would do it." Patroclus stood with his hands on his hips and a grin on his face, beaming with pride. "I'm sorry it took so long. The smiths here are not used to making this type of thing."

    "You had this made for me?" Achilles put down Patroclus' sword. His finger had healed somewhat from their previous spar, though it ached with the sudden stopping of the trident's momentum. Achilles was grateful he healed slightly faster than a regular mortal. It been almost two weeks since he broke it and his hand was nearly back to full strength. He swung the trident around to get a feel for it. The trident was heavier than a spear though lighter than a sword, but what Achilles loved was the weapon felt completely balanced in his hand.

    "Yes, you're the son of a sea goddess. I've seen your discomfort when we sparred with swords. Though this weapon isn't normally used for combat, the mighty Poseidon carries one, and fisherman are adept at earning their meals by copying his model. The sea runs in your blood, you need a weapon to match."

    "Can we spar?" Achilles didn't wait for his cousin to answer. He threw Patroclus his sword and the older man caught it effortlessly.

    "I thought you'd never ask," Patroclus grinned.

Achilles briefly considered grabbing his shield but decided against it. While a trident was a melee weapon similar to a spear, which Achilles was well practiced in, fighting with a trident was new for him, and as Achilles would soon find, had some subtle differences. Patroclus took a fighting stance across from him. Achilles swung his trident in a downward arch towards his cousin. Patroclus sidestepped the slash and thrust his sword at Achilles' side.

    Achilles responded by slamming down the trident and trapping Patroclus' sword between two of the tines. The sword was too broad for Patroclus to pull it back out and Achilles couldn't lift his trident to free the sword, if he did, Patroclus would have been able to strike at Achilles, and potentially injure him before Achilles would have a chance to strike back.

    The men called the spar a draw and started again. This time Achilles thought to use the trident more like a spear and on the attack rather than defense. Achilles grasped the shaft of the trident about one quarter of the way from the tined edge. Achilles thrust it towards Patroclus' chest and Patroclus brought his weapon down against the tines. Patroclus' sword became locked between the second and third tine. His sword hilt was caught by the tines half between them and half out. It was impossible to free unless one of the men was knocked down and dropped his weapon. Neither wanted to back down and engaged in a shoving match.

    Grunting and getting nowhere, they put a stop to the spar and started anew once again. Achilles and Patroclus circled each other slowly. Achilles wanted to go into battle on the morrow armed with this new weapon, but it was proving to be more of a hinderance at the moment than an asset. Achilles grasped the trident so tightly his hand began to ache again.

    Taking a chance, Achilles loosened his grip slightly and thrust forward with the trident once again. The shaft of a spear was made of wood and therefore not as slick, the trident Patroclus presented him with however, was made of metal entirely. The boy began to sweat during this spar and his hand slipped up the shaft of the trident as it met the steady resistance of Patroclus' sword. This caused the boy to trip with the unintended forward momentum and he ended up in the dirt.

    "Maybe I was wrong and a sword, even unbalanced, is the better weapon for you," Patroclus was clearly saddened his well intended gift hadn't turned out as imagined.

    "No," Achilles said as he picked himself up from the ground. "I will master this. I just need time to refine my technique."

    "Achilles, you don't have to use my gift. You'll be better off with a sword tomorrow."

    "And a sword I will use, but I swear I will master the trident."

🦁

    The gates of Athens crumbled easily the next day. Tyndareus' men were the first inside, as was right. By the time Achilles and the Myrimdons sprang through the gates, a second wave of defenders rushed their line. Patroclus asked Achilles to try and stay close but they were quickly separated in the chaos.

    Achilles remembered three years previous when he'd snuck away with the men and had been in his first battle. That battle had not prepared the boy for this. His previous experience had been two armies meeting in an open field. And it had been over fast as the enemy the Myrmidons had been fighting were inexperienced. Achilles hadn't even killed anyone in that battle before the fight was over, having only gotten a scratch and his helmet knocked off.

    The complete chaos of urban combat was nearly overwhelming. Enemy archers were on roofs, behind carts, and took down dozens of men with each volley. Achilles manage to get his shield up before an arrow would have made contact with his eye. The ally next to him wasn't as lucky and was shot in the leg, chest, and his cheek.

    "Achilles! Help me!" Achilles quickly strapped his shield to his back and grabbed the strap of the man's armor and started to drag him back to the friendly lines. Had they really moved so deep into the city? The lines hadn't seemed so far away a moment ago. The man's blood soaked Achilles' calves as he dragged the soldier whose name Achilles couldn't remember. "Look out," the injured man screamed.

     An Athenian soldier ran at Achilles from between two buildings. Achilles dropped the man's armor straps. "Hang on," Achilles ordered the man as he turned to the face the enemy and ran into the alley to met him. The enemy soldier was screaming obscenities as he brought his sword, already dripping with blood, against the sword of the boy. Achilles nearly gagged with the smell of the man's rotten breath up close. As their swords traded blows someone ran up from behind Achilles.

    "No!" Achilles heard the voice of the man he'd been attempting to drag scream, followed by gurgling and choking as if he was trying to swallow too much water.

    Those sounds combined with the heavy footfalls of the new comer, and the look of smug satisfaction in the eyes of his enemy, told Achilles whomever was approaching was not an ally to himself. With speed Achilles took one hand from his sword hilt and grabbed for the knife at his belt. The soldier from behind was getting closer and began to scream insults about Sparta and Achilles' mother. Achilles swung his knife under the arm of the man in front of him and sunk the knife into the gap of the other man's armor. Achilles jammed the knife into the man's armpit up to the hilt.

    His enemy howled in pain and dropped his sword. Achilles barely had time to turn before the next man was on him. Achilles dodged a slash from a sword, his extraordinary and not quite human speed the only thing that saved him from having an ear taken off. But the slash did cut into his cheek, Achilles barely noticed as the warm blood began flow down his neck. Achilles' shield caught the edge of the building making an odd noise as the metal hit stone.

    The first man who Achilles had stabbed didn't have much brains. He pulled out the knife from under his arm causing a spray of blood to emerge from his body. The injured man insulted Achilles, his homeland, and his mother as he attempted to staunch the flow of blood. Achilles couldn't spare much more thought on the first man.

    His second attacker brought his sword up from the ground and attempted to cut into Achilles' legs. Achilles jumped over the blade and threw his second dagger at the man. The second enemy was better than the first and he hit the dagger with the blade of his sword, causing the dagger to fly down the alley and beyond Achilles' reach. Achilles was now armed with only his sword, one more dagger strapped to his thigh, and the shield at his back.

    Breathing hard, Achilles shot a glance at the first man he'd fought who'd managed the stop the flow blood from his wound, and was getting back to his feet. Turning his head from the enemy in front of him was a mistake. And it was a stupid mistake, one Achilles had been told again and again never to commit in the midst of combat. It was a mistake he'd never made during training, but here now in the heat of battle Achilles couldn't help himself from checking to see what that first man was doing. Attacker number two took advantage of the boy's distraction. Achilles' sword was knocked from his grasp.

    Before Achilles could grab the last knife his belt, attacker number two grabbed the boy's throat and pushed him up against the wall of the building. Achilles reached for the knife but attacker number one got there first. He took the weapon and was about to throw it away until he noticed the quality of the metal. Attacker number one attached the dagger to his own belt and sneered at Achilles. Attacker two was a strong man and hoisted the full weight of Achilles several feet off the ground. The shield still strapped to Achilles back was slightly rounded in the middle, and the round edge put the boy far enough away from the wall that his legs couldn't find purchase to give him leverage. Achilles was dangling from the wall with the man squeezing his throat tighter and tighter.

    "Look at his eyes," one of them said. "He's a golding."

    "So what? Where's his sire now?" He squeezed Achilles' throat tighter.

    The boy tried to kick but the man stood far enough away Achilles' legs couldn't reach. Tears sprang to Achilles eyes as he lungs cried desperately for the air they were being denied. Panic erupted in the boy's soul as he began to think he might really die here. Achilles thought he could hear the roar of the ocean in his ears as his vision began to change.

    The man holding Achilles' neck was forced to let go as the boy's neck expanded. Achilles felt a familiar strength flood his body as his body changed. The strap over his chest that held the shield to his torso snapped and the shield clattered to the ground. Achilles hit the ground not as a boy but a lion still struggling for air. The attackers were running down the alley entrance screaming in fear. Seeing them flee triggered something primal in the boy and Achilles gave chase. Achilles roared as his claws sank into the flesh of the first man's back. His teeth chomped down on the back on his neck, and the man's screams were quickly silenced as his soul was tugged to the underworld.

    Attacker two didn't spare a thought for his fellow soldier and continued to flee. He'd almost reached the end of the alley where Achilles had left the injured man. The man was running fast but Achilles the lion was faster. Achilles had the man on the ground and separated his head from his body with a single bite.

    "Achilles? Is that you?" Patroclus' voice came from behind.

    Growling slightly, Achilles spit out the head of his enemy and turned to face his cousin. Patroclus had a back eye and some minor injuries but looked otherwise unharmed. Achilles could smell the blood on Patroclus' armor but he could tell it wasn't Patroclus' blood. It didn't smell like him. Patroclus' sword was pointed to the ground, blood dripping form the metal to the cobble stones. Achilles walked over to the injured soldier he'd left near the mouth of the alley, but the man was dead.

    "Are you injured?" Patroclus put a hand on Achilles' mane. The boy shook his shaggy head. "Can you transform back?"

    Achilles focused but his form wouldn't change. Before he could shake his head again, they were set on by attackers.

    "Don't jump up to expose your stomach and remember not to open your mouth too wide when facing archers," Patroclus ordered hastily.

     For the remainder of the battle Achilles and Patroclus fought side by side, as man and beast. After some time, Achilles and Patroclus found themselves fighting next to Agamemnon. They were able to fend off a wave of men defending the necropolis. Soon they'd killed all the Athenian defenders and they fought to hold the necropolis against soldiers who ran up the hill seeking to take it back. During the course of the battle, Achilles sprang on a man who'd managed to sneak up from behind. The soldier was about to stab Agamemnon through the throat and Achilles acted first. Agamemnon nodded to Achilles in acknowledgment for the save.

   Two hours later Athens surrendered. Word of Achilles fighting as a lion was well circulated throughout the men. Many of them had witnessed the lion fighting by Patroclus' side and Achilles powers were now known. Patroclus and Achilles both were covered in blood at the end of the battle and as they walked down to the river, Achilles still as a lion, they were stared at and whispered about.

    Achilles now understood why Patroclus had ordered him to keep his powers secret. The only two who didn't appear to have any fear of him were Caster and Pollux.

    "Is that really you," Caster asked while looking into the face of the lion.

    Achilles snorted. Patroclus dumped another bucket of water over him. Achilles had never had a problem with water before, but in this form he refused to immerse himself in the river. Pollux was also helping to bathe Achilles while Caster held the boy's head. Achilles didn't want to hurt the three men helping him but he had an animal's instinct to run away from this bath.

    Caster had inherited god like strength from his father Zeus, and was more than a match for keeping Achilles' head in his hands. When the torment was over Achilles shook himself like a dog, soaking his three helpers. The men laughed and Achilles felt something wash over him hearing it. Before he could blink Achilles was once again a human. Caster gave him his cloak to cover himself and the four walked back into camp.

    Despite intense questioning none of the Athenian soldiers could tell them where Helen was being kept. Achilles lay outside Patroclus tent, starring up at the stars. He thought on the battle and it was almost like he was watching it through the eyes of someone else. He remembered how it felt to sink his teeth into human flesh and felt sick.

    "Achilles," a soft voice called from the darkness.

    "Who goes?" Achilles sat up and looked around but didn't see anyone. The voice was that of a woman but it wasn't his mother.

    "A nymph of the river. I've been sent by your mother to show you the way."

    Achilles focused his eyes down by the river, and eventually saw a woman who blended in so much with the water she was difficult to distinguish. Achilles walked to the river and the woman came into better focus.

    "The way to what, pretty one?"

    The nymph smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. The sickness Achilles felt in his stomach was gone and replaced with fluttering. "To Helen, the daughter of Zeus."

    Achilles hadn't forgotten they were here for Helen. But he had forgotten he'd requested a way to find the girl. "Let me collect my armor and sword." Achilles went back to the tent and quietly gathered his things. Caster and Pollux had set up their tents nearby and Achilles considered waking all three men, but decided against it. He wanted to retrieve the girl alone, Achilles did leave a short note explaining where he'd gone, and hoped Patroclus wouldn't be angry when he returned.

    "Are you ready?"

    "Yes," Achilles told the creature.

    "Step into the waters."

    When Achilles' foot hit the water he was raised in the air gently. A boat, more like a raft, began to emerge from the water. The nymph placed a hand on the raft and they set off at a quick pace.

    "The girl is being kept in the countryside with the King of Athens' mother. Sleep now, my sisters and I will have you there by dawn."

    Achilles looked down into the water. Several pretty girls were swimming rapidly next to the raft. One smiled at Achilles and he smiled back, the girls began to sing and the gentle rocking of the boat soon lulled the troubled boy to sleep.

    Achilles woke alone on raft. The nymphs had left him a breakfast of fish and fruit but he couldn't see them anywhere. Achilles ate the food with a strange feeling. In the distance on a hill top, Achilles could see the outline of a home. He heard the cluck of chickens, the sounds of sheep and cows, and shrieking of a girl in outrage.

    Achilles strapped his shield to his back and set up towards the home. He found an old woman at a spinning wheel in the front yard. There was a young servant girl holding a ball of yarn next to the old woman and someone grumbling on the other side of the house.

    "Who are you," the old woman narrowed her eyes.

    "Achilles, son of Peleus, King of Phthia. I've come for the Princess Helen of Sparta."

    "Thank the gods!" A girl ran around from behind the home. She was covered in mud and her hair was a mess of tangles. "These peasants have treated me abominably."

    The young woman holding the yard scowled at Helen. "We've treated you as a guest. If you'd change clothes you wouldn't sink. That's not our fault."

    "Shut up you ugly, stupid girl!" Helen shouted at the yarn maiden.

    The maiden turned her face away but there were tears in her eyes. The old woman stood up and slapped Helen. "You will not speak to my servant that way, scullion."

    "Are you going to fight me to keep her here or not," Achilles broke in impatiently.

    "Of course not," the old woman snorted. "I never wanted her here but my idiot son insisted I keep her. She's nothing but a headache."

    "I am a princesses! Your son kidnapped me and now you expect me to work for you and wear those filthy rags!"

    "All our mistress said was if you expect to eat you need to work," the other maiden said.

    "She's not my mistress you slow headed slut!"

    The old woman slapped Helen again. Rage appeared in Helen's eyes. Before Achilles could step forward and tug Helen away, Helen jumped on the old woman and began to hit her. The old woman fell to the ground with a yelp of pain. The woman tried to get the girl off her but the Helen was stronger. The other maiden jumped up and yanked on Helen's hair.

    "Ouch!" Helen scratched at the maidens face. "Let go!"

    "Knock this off!" Achilles shouted but it did no good. "I've come to take you with me."

    The girls ignored him and kept fighting. Achilles rolled his eyes and stepped forward to yank Helen away, but something happened before he laid hands on her. There was a crackle in the air as Helen shoved the other maiden away. The other girl screamed as a bright flash of light exited Helen's hand and entered the other girl's chest. The blast was loud and had enough force that it knocked Achilles off his feet.

    With ears ringing, Achilles got back to his feet but he didn't understand the scene his saw once he rose. Helen was staring at her hand in shock, the old woman was wailing over the other girl and the girl wasn't moving. Achilles left Helen where she was and went to see about the other two. The older woman was distraught and crying, her own pain with the bruises quickly forming on her face didn't seem to bother her.

    Achilles bent down and examined the girl. There was a black mark on her clothing that smelled of fire. Achilles put his finger to the girl's neck. There was no pulse of life and her skin was already growing cold. The girl's face was frozen in an expression of pain of shock.

    Another flash of white light lit the house on fire. "HAHAHAHAHA!" Helen laughed jovially.

    "She was the granddaughter of my friend. She came here to serve me," the old woman wept into her hands.

    "What's your name," Achilles asked the old woman gently.

    "Aethra of Troezen."

    "I will bury the girl," Achilles told her. "Go to the raft, we sail from here. I will broker you safe passage from Athens."

    Helen ignored them as used her new found powers to set everything on fire, the home, the barn, the chicken coop with the chickens still in it. Achilles dug a grave and remembered his mother telling him that Helen was not meant for him. Seeing this he had to agree.

    As Helen had set Aethra's home on the fire, there were no belongings for her to collect. Achilles and Aethra sat on the far side of the raft, away from Helen who tried to blast any animal she saw on the shore with her new ability. Thankfully she missed most of the time.

    They arrived back at camp the next day. Achilles handed over Helen to her brothers immediately. She showed them her new powers and they all laughed together. Achilles helped Aethra off the boat and took her to Patroclus' tent. Patroclus looked annoyed but pleased to see him.

    "We must escort this woman to-"

    "No!" Helen broke in. "She will return to Sparta with me as my slave."

    Tyndareus had wandered over, having seen the odd explosion and came to investiage. He was accompanied by Agamemnon and Menlaus. "Who has delivered you, my child?"

    "Achilles," Helen pointed to the boy. "He wants to give that wench save passage and I want her as my slave. She treated me horribly and I need to return her dishonor."

    "No, I gave my word for her safety." Achilles put himself in front of the old woman.

    "That was foolish of you," Tyndareus said. "My daughter has made her wishes clear. The old woman shall be her slave. What a king says surpasses a princes's promises, especially since I'm the leader of this war."

    "You'll have to get through me first." Achilles put his hand on his sword. Achilles felt a hand on his shoulder.

    "I will serve the girl. I won't have you die for me," Aethra said.

    "Bind her!" Helen shrieked. "Where is my tent and when do we leave? I need a good bath and food."

    Achilles watched helplessly as the old woman was lead away in chains. Tyndareus, Caster, Pollux, and Helen walked off back to the center of camp.

    "Achilles," Agamemnon approached him. "There is something I wish to discuss with you and your cousin."

    "Our tent is yours," Patroclus told the king.

    Achilles numbly went about serving food and wine to the older men before taking his place.

    "Achilles has done me a great service," Agamemnon said. "He saved my life when we fought together and I wish to repay him with a betrothal to my youngest daughter, Iphigenia."