Sweet Mother Part 2

The sound of music filled the grand hall as the talented musicians played their instruments, their melodies weaving together in perfect harmony. The air was filled with the delicious aroma of food, and the room was alive with laughter and celebration.

Peleus and Achilles were in high spirits, chatting and laughing with Queen Thetis, their faces alight with joy. As I sat there watching, I couldn't help but feel like an outsider, despite their efforts to make me feel included. Even though I wasn't related to them by blood, they had always treated me like family. But in that moment, as they continued to revel in each other's company, I couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place.

My gaze drifted towards Achilles, who had now switched seats and was sitting next to his mother. It had been ages since he had seen her, and I couldn't blame him for wanting to catch up with her. But as he chatted away with the Queen, I couldn't help but feel neglected and forgotten.

Thetis, gazed at her son with a glint of amusement in her eyes. Her lips curled into a playful smile as she asked, "So Achilles, have you found a bride yet?"

Achilles' face flushed with embarrassment at the mention of marriage. "Mother!" he exclaimed.

Thetis leaned back into her chair, her smile growing wider. "Oh, don't 'mother' me," she chided affectionately. "You know that you must find a suitable partner soon. Your father and I met when we were your age, so it's only fitting that you do the same." Her hand reached up to cup his cheek, her touch seemed warm and comforting.

As we approached manhood, Queen Thetis' words resonated with us - it was time to seek out wives. Despite our impending adulthood, the idea of being in a relationship still filled us with a sense of unease and embarrassment.

In a moment of vulnerability, Achilles finally admitted, "Fine...there might be one." I was caught off guard by his confession.

Questions flooded my mind. Who was this mysterious girl he spoke of? Why had he not mentioned her before? As his best friend and confidant, I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance that he had kept this secret from me.

King Peleus' excitement was palpable as he exclaimed, "It's that Deidamia girl, isn't it!? She's a good girl, I'm certain you'll have some strong and beautiful babies together!"

Achilles let out a groan of embarrassment as his parents chuckled at his discomfort. His face flushed with a mixture of annoyance and bashfulness.

"And what about you, Patroklos? Have you found a girl?" Queen Thetis turned her attention to me and I could feel all eyes in the room on me. But it was Achilles' gaze that felt the most intense, as if he was anticipating for my answer.

"No." I replied with a weak smile, my heart sinking at the thought of disappointing everyone. The truth was, I couldn't possibly find someone when my entire existence revolved around Achilles. How could I possibly have a love life when everything I did was for him? Unless...

But before I could finish my thought, the Queen spoke up again. "Good," she said, her voice firm. "As Achilles' companion, I expect nothing less than your undivided attention."

As Queen Thetis' words sank in, I realized that her question had been a test of my loyalty after all. It seemed that she wanted to see if I took my role as Achilles' companion seriously. And of course, I did. My entire existence was devoted to him and I would do anything to support him.

But as I pondered her motives, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. Did she not trust me? Did she not trust her own son to choose a companion who would be loyal and dedicated to him?

Despite my inner turmoil, I kept my thoughts to myself and simply nodded in agreement. I knew that my loyalty to Achilles was unwavering, and I hoped that one day Queen Thetis would come to see that as well.

As I lay there in the stillness of the night, the only sounds around us were the soft chirping of crickets and the sound of Achilles' small, steady breaths. But my mind was far from calm as I struggled to contain my anger.

"Why didn't you tell me about Deidamia?" I spoke sternly, trying to keep my emotions in check. I didn't want to show Achilles how angry I was, but it was difficult to hide my frustration.

"What about her?" he asked innocently, his voice calm and soothing. Sometimes I wondered if he was truly clueless or if he was intentionally trying to push my buttons.

My anger boiled over as I spoke, my voice low and menacing. "You know exactly what I mean. Why didn't you tell me that you're interested in Deidamia?"

I heard Achilles shift on his bed, and I turned to face him. In the pale moonlight, his bare chest glimmered, and his bright eyes shone like stars in the dark.

"I'm not interested in Deidamia," he said, his voice calm and steady. "Sure, she's cute, but I have no intention of marrying her."

My anger began to dissipate as Achilles explained himself. "Then why did you lie to your parents?"

"I didn't lie, I just didn't say anything," he chuckled, his voice light and carefree.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So who is it then?"

Confusion etched across Achilles' face as he struggled to understand my question. "Huh?" he said, his voice laced with confusion.

I repeated myself, my tone insistent. "Who is the person you're interested in? You said you liked someone, so who is it?"

Achilles stared at me intently, his eyes searching mine for something I couldn't quite decipher. The weight of his silence hung heavy in the air, as if he were deliberating whether to reveal a deep, guarded secret. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he broke the silence.

His voice carried a hint of amusement as he chuckled and remarked, "You're quite nosy, aren't you?"

I couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration at his evasiveness. "Seriously? You're not going to tell me?" I blurted out, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.

"Nope." He said nonchalantly.

My emotions got the better of me, and I found myself blurting out the accusation that had been brewing inside me. "You know you were a jerk today," I spat out, my words laced with resentment. I turned away from him, facing the wall in an attempt to hide my vulnerability.

Achilles's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "What do you mean?" he exclaimed, genuinely taken aback.

"During training. You were being a dick!" My words hung in the air, charged with the frustration that had been simmering within me. The memory of his behavior during our training session burned in my mind, fueling my outburst

Silence enveloped the room once again, broken only by the sound of Achilles's deep breaths. I could sense him lying back down, his presence still lingering in the room.

Suddenly, his voice pierced through the silence, laced with a hint of amusement. "Not my fault you suck at fighting," he quipped, his laughter echoing softly in the darkness.

Unable to contain my frustration any longer, I grabbed my pillow and hurled it at him in a fit of defiance.

"Ow! Is this how you treat your lord?" he exclaimed, a hint of playfulness in his voice.

"As his chosen companion, it is my duty to guide him," I retorted, sitting back up and meeting his gaze. "Especially when his ego blinds him to his own faults." Though the room was shrouded in darkness, I mustered a small smile, hoping he could sense it.

His response came in the form of a playful threat. "Those are bold words, Patroklos! Be careful, or you might just lose your head."

"If that is your wish, my lord, then so be it," I replied, turning my back to him once again. "I am going to sleep."

Just as I began to settle into the comfort of my bed, I felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. The sound of his bed sheets rustling reached my ears, and before I could comprehend what was happening, his hand gripped my arm, pulling me to my feet.

"What are you doing?!" I exclaimed, my confusion evident in my voice.

"Fight me," he said calmly, his eyes glinting in the darkness.

Achilles wanted me to engage in a battle, right here in the confines of our room, in the dead of night. He had finally lost his mind.

""You have officially lost your mind," I responded, my voice devoid of any trace of emotion, as if I were merely stating a fact.

Achilles's retort carried a hint of dismissiveness, his words laced with playful taunting. "Oh, shut up and fight me. Come on! Don't be a loser."

The absurdity of his request weighed heavily on my mind. How could he expect me to compete against him when every previous encounter had ended in my defeat? The frustration welled up within me, threatening to spill over. "But I am... every time we fight, I lose," I admitted, my voice tinged with resignation.

Achilles's response, delivered with an air of nonchalance, only fueled my frustration. "Well then... maybe DON'T lose!" His words hung in the air, a simplistic solution that offered no real guidance or strategy.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips, carrying with it a mixture of resignation and weariness. I braced myself for what felt like an inevitable outcome, my muscles tensing in preparation for the impending clash. With a lackluster effort, I threw the first punch, its trajectory lacking the precision and determination it needed. To my surprise, Achilles reacted with a seriousness that belied the dimly lit room, parrying my half-hearted strike with a deftness that sent me stumbling backward, crashing onto his bed.

"Again," he commanded, his voice carrying an unwavering determination, his body already poised to repeat the cycle of this relentless contest.

The fatigue that coursed through my veins seeped into my voice as I mustered a plea, tinged with exhaustion. "I'm tired, and it's too dark to see. Can we just do this in the morning?"

Achilles's response was swift and resolute, leaving no room for negotiation. "I said, again!" His words cut through the air, firm and unwavering, refusing to accept anything less than compliance.

Reluctantly, I readied myself once more, summoning a flicker of determination amidst my weariness. This time, my form held a hint of strength, a glimmer of defiance. I struck out towards him, hoping to catch him off guard, but he effortlessly evaded my attack, swiftly pinning me back onto his bed, our bodies locked in a familiar and frustrating pattern.

We repeated this relentless cycle countless times, each iteration fueling a growing frustration within me. Failure gnawed at my resolve, but a flicker of determination burned bright in my core. I yearned to best Achilles, to prove that I was not bound to a perpetual cycle of defeat. But try as I might, his speed eluded me, his movements a blur of agility and precision.

Finally, Achilles called for a pause, his voice carrying a hint of wisdom amidst the chaos. "Stop and think," he advised, his tone cutting through my haze of emotions. "You're letting your anger control you. You need to plan your next moves, anticipate my actions."

His words struck a chord within me, a reminder that victory lay not in blind fury, but in calculated strategy. I knew that no matter how I attacked, he would effortlessly dodge, seize my arm, and pin me to the bed. I had to adapt, to find a way to overcome his relentless grasp.

Summoning every ounce of focus, I struck at him once more, but this time it was not an aimless flail. I anticipated his next move, my mind working in tandem with my body. As he grabbed my arm, I swiftly kicked the back of his thigh, catching him off guard. The surprise caused him to momentarily loosen his grip, granting me a precious moment of freedom. With a surge of determination, I pulled my arm free, charging my other hand for a strike.

But Achilles, ever vigilant, reacted with lightning speed. He charged at me, his movements fueled by instinct and experience. In an instant, he grabbed my entire torso, overpowering me and pinning me back onto the bed. The weight of his body pressed against mine, his long strands of hair brushing against my face, carrying with them the intoxicating scent of ambrosia. The sweet aroma enveloped me, almost tangible in its intensity, teasing my senses with its alluring presence.

As I struggled to catch my breath, the sound of Achilles' laughter echoed above me, filling the room with a vibrant energy. "Good, now we're getting somewhere," he chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction.

I struggled to catch my breath, my muscles fatigued and aching. "Have you had enough fun for one night? We can continue this tomorrow," I suggested, my voice laced with exhaustion.

"Fine, fine. We can go to sleep now. But I expect more of this tomorrow!" he declared, his tone firm and unwavering.

"More of what? Sleep deprivation?" I retorted, my snarky remark barely masking my frustration.

"More of you improving your combat," he clarified, his voice carrying a sense of determination.

"It doesn't feel like I improved at all," I admitted, my shoulders slumping in defeat. Despite my best efforts, Achilles had still managed to best me.

"Don't sell yourself short! You almost brought me to my knees," he countered, his hand patting my head in a gesture of reassurance.

"Your knees barely moved an inch," I pointed out, my voice tinged with bitterness.

"Still, barely an inch closer than anyone else has managed to," he replied, his words carrying a sense of pride. With that, he fell back onto the bed, his body relaxing into a state of peaceful slumber.

I clambered off his bed, my body still pulsing with the remnants of our intense sparring session. As I lay down on my own bed, I glanced back at Achilles. His breathing was slow and steady, a cadence of tranquility that seemed to wash away the tensions of the day. In the soft glow of moonlight, he lay there, resembling a slumbering babe, untouched by the worries and burdens of the world.