See previous or start at the beginning.
Silver-footed Thetis heard her son's cries and appeared before him, gleaming, sea water streaming from her hair. "What is it!? Are you OK? IS IT YOUR HEEL???"
Achilles sighed, his brawny shoulders drooping. "No, mom, it is not my heel."
"Are you wearing your heel guard?" She grabbed his waist and twisted the huge man around. "YOU AREN'T WEARING IT?? YOU ARE NEVER TO TAKE THAT OFF, YOUNG MAN. NEVER."
"MOM!" Achilles yelled. "Stop it! I am twenty-eight years old! I think I can make my own decisions! On my own!"
"Then I guess you don't need my help," Thetis snipped.
Achilles ground his teeth together, and spoke through them, "OK FINE. I will put it on as soon as I get back to the tent. I just needed you to talk to Zeus for me."
Thetis opened her small palm to reveal Achilles' heel cover. "I took the liberty of grabbing it on my way."
With a silent curse, Achilles grabbed the leather thongs from her hand and strapped the gleaming silver patch to his heel. If anything, it drew attention to his only weak spot-- he was pretty sure Vulcan had done that on purpose. That gimp would love for him to be all wounded and limpy.
"Better?" he asked. His mother nodded and he continued. "I want you to tell Jove to help the Trojans. Agamemnon is being a total dick. He needs to be taken down a peg or ten."
"They're all off at some party in Ethiopia, but when they get back I'll see what I can do," she said. "I saw that Briseis, she wasn't any good for you anyway."
Achilles' brow darkened, his eyes narrowing. "I don't think I asked your opinion. She's gone, anyway." He trailed off into a mumble, "Fucking Agamemenon."
"WHAT did you just say?" Thetis said, whipping her head back around to face him, her feet already wading into the sea.
"Nothing."
"Clean up your tent, too. That place is a pig sty."
With that, she dove beneath the frothing waves and was gone.
"FUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" Achilles yelled, tearing off the heel strap and heading back to his tent.
Showing posts with label Iliad Book One. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iliad Book One. Show all posts
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Iliad, Book 1.3
See previous or go to the beginning.
Minerva was in her room, packing a light bag for the trip to Ethiopia. She grabbed a few tunics from her Spartan closet, a hairbrush from the bedside table, and an extra pair of sandals, and slipped them into the knapsack. Done. And with plenty of time to spare.
"Minerva?" She heard Juno calling for her down the hall. Her eyes darted to the owl in the cage near the window. Crap. She would not have time to get her out the window, too--
She was too slow. Juno was already in the door, giving her that "I need a favor" look. Stifling a sigh, Minerva tossed her aegis onto her bed. "Yes?"
Juno tried to smile sweetly, but it came out manipulative. "You are SO good with humans, Minerva. So... HELPFUL when things get out of control."
"Is this about the Achaeans again?" Minerva asked, plaiting her brown hair deftly, over her shoulder.
"I KNEW you would be willing to help!" Juno gushed. "If you could just HURRY. I'm pretty sure Achilles is about to do something RASH."
"So Achilles is being Achilles, and you would like me to...?" Minerva trailed off, finishing her braid with a silver ribbon.
"Well, just keep him from killing Agamemnon," Juno said, as though it were nothing. "I mean, I would do it, but I have ALL of this packing to do..." she trailed off, nearly succeeding in looking helpless.
Minerva grabbed the aegis from where she'd thrown it and slung her knapsack over her shoulder. "Afterwards, I'm going to take a few days off. I'll meet you in Ethiopia." With that she walked out of the room and onto the beach.
Achilles was raving by the time she got to him-- yelling and reaching for his spear. "YOU TOOK A PRIEST'S DAUGHTER AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OKAY??? AND NOW YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE MY BRISEIS??" Minerva barely noticed the tall, dark Briseis being led over to Agamemenon as she grabbed Achilles by his yellow hair and yanked his head around to face her.
"You," she said, looking into his wild eyes. "Stop."
It was like throwing a bucket of water onto a fire. He clamped his mouth shut, swallowing hard, averting his eyes to the ground in respect.
Something in Minerva didn't like seeing the wild man tamed so easily. "Talk to your mother about it," she said, letting go of his long hair. "But don't start something with him now."
"Th-thank you," he said, his muscled shoulders loosening as he took a deep breath. "I'll do that." He threw a hateful look over his shoulder at Agamemnon, then turned toward his tent without a word.
Minerva was in her room, packing a light bag for the trip to Ethiopia. She grabbed a few tunics from her Spartan closet, a hairbrush from the bedside table, and an extra pair of sandals, and slipped them into the knapsack. Done. And with plenty of time to spare.
"Minerva?" She heard Juno calling for her down the hall. Her eyes darted to the owl in the cage near the window. Crap. She would not have time to get her out the window, too--
She was too slow. Juno was already in the door, giving her that "I need a favor" look. Stifling a sigh, Minerva tossed her aegis onto her bed. "Yes?"
Juno tried to smile sweetly, but it came out manipulative. "You are SO good with humans, Minerva. So... HELPFUL when things get out of control."
"Is this about the Achaeans again?" Minerva asked, plaiting her brown hair deftly, over her shoulder.
"I KNEW you would be willing to help!" Juno gushed. "If you could just HURRY. I'm pretty sure Achilles is about to do something RASH."
"So Achilles is being Achilles, and you would like me to...?" Minerva trailed off, finishing her braid with a silver ribbon.
"Well, just keep him from killing Agamemnon," Juno said, as though it were nothing. "I mean, I would do it, but I have ALL of this packing to do..." she trailed off, nearly succeeding in looking helpless.
Minerva grabbed the aegis from where she'd thrown it and slung her knapsack over her shoulder. "Afterwards, I'm going to take a few days off. I'll meet you in Ethiopia." With that she walked out of the room and onto the beach.
Achilles was raving by the time she got to him-- yelling and reaching for his spear. "YOU TOOK A PRIEST'S DAUGHTER AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OKAY??? AND NOW YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE MY BRISEIS??" Minerva barely noticed the tall, dark Briseis being led over to Agamemenon as she grabbed Achilles by his yellow hair and yanked his head around to face her.
"You," she said, looking into his wild eyes. "Stop."
It was like throwing a bucket of water onto a fire. He clamped his mouth shut, swallowing hard, averting his eyes to the ground in respect.
Something in Minerva didn't like seeing the wild man tamed so easily. "Talk to your mother about it," she said, letting go of his long hair. "But don't start something with him now."
"Th-thank you," he said, his muscled shoulders loosening as he took a deep breath. "I'll do that." He threw a hateful look over his shoulder at Agamemnon, then turned toward his tent without a word.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Iliad, Book 1.2
See previous here.
"HE HAS BEEN KILLING THEM FOR NINE DAYS! NINE DAYS! I mean, when he was just shooting his arrows at the dogs, I didn't really care," Juno huffed, petting the cat on her lap a little harder than was necessary, "but then he started in on my Achaeans! And they are being decimated."
Demeter shook her head disapprovingly, her long brown hair swishing side to side as she gave Juno a pat on the shoulder. Athena did not look up from the book she was reading, but mumbled a noncommital "Mmm-hmm." Hestia kept her eyes on the fire.
"There's not much use talking to Apollo at this point," Demeter said, looking over at the fern in the corner, which grew slightly under her gaze. "Ares is down there with him. They're beyond reason."
"Well, I've had it." Juno stood up suddenly, and her cat fell to the ground with a loud yowl. "Jove is off gallivanting who-knows-where. If not for me, nothing would ever get done around here. It's no wonder I'm always on edge. It's all of the stress of keeping everything together."
Athena's grey eyes took on a steely hue, but she kept reading.
"When Jove comes looking for me, tell him I'm with Achilles," Juno said. "With Achilles."
"Of course," Demeter said. "It'll serve him right."
---
Achilles and Patroclus were lounging around the tent, watching Briseis as she tried to straighten up the mess around them. The girl's dark hair and dark skin looked almost warm in the light of the lantern. She grabbed a bundle of blankets from the floor, her black tunic inching up as she did so. She suddenly realized the men had grown quiet, and whipped around in time to see Patroclus bending over to get a better look. Scowling, she wadded the blankets up, threw them in Achilles' face, and stomped out.
Patroclus was laughing so hard he almost drowned out Achilles' loud "RAWR!" The younger man left the tent to throw a few more teasing insults after the woman, and when the tent flap closed behind him, Juno stood there, radiant and proud.
Achilles hastily stood up, shoving the blankets behind him while inclining his head slightly, rather less than most would in the presence of the goddess.
Juno, of course, noticed this, and her face took on a bit more of an edge than it usually had. "Achilles."
"My Queen," Achilles said, raising an eyebrow, but inclining his head lower this time.
Juno rolled her eyes. The nerve of some these half-mortals was almost comical. "Let's just cut to the chase, shall we?" She swung her golden plait around her shoulder, stroking it as she spoke. "Apollo will not rest until Agamemnon returns the girl to his priest. You are going to do whatever you need to do to calm him down." She ignored Achilles' muffled groan. "I would suggest an assembly. Calchus may have something to say. And straighten up in here," she said, looking around the tent. "Your mother would be ashamed of you."
"That's what Briseis is for," Achilles muttered.
Juno's eyes lit a little at this. "She is not your slave."
"Actually, she is," Achilles retorted. "Agamemnon gave her to me because I am the best warrior he has. To the victor go the womenfolk," he said, imitating Juno's overdramatic emphasis.
"We'll see about that," Juno snapped. "An assembly. NOW." She disappeared before Achilles could reply.
"HE HAS BEEN KILLING THEM FOR NINE DAYS! NINE DAYS! I mean, when he was just shooting his arrows at the dogs, I didn't really care," Juno huffed, petting the cat on her lap a little harder than was necessary, "but then he started in on my Achaeans! And they are being decimated."
Demeter shook her head disapprovingly, her long brown hair swishing side to side as she gave Juno a pat on the shoulder. Athena did not look up from the book she was reading, but mumbled a noncommital "Mmm-hmm." Hestia kept her eyes on the fire.
"There's not much use talking to Apollo at this point," Demeter said, looking over at the fern in the corner, which grew slightly under her gaze. "Ares is down there with him. They're beyond reason."
"Well, I've had it." Juno stood up suddenly, and her cat fell to the ground with a loud yowl. "Jove is off gallivanting who-knows-where. If not for me, nothing would ever get done around here. It's no wonder I'm always on edge. It's all of the stress of keeping everything together."
Athena's grey eyes took on a steely hue, but she kept reading.
"When Jove comes looking for me, tell him I'm with Achilles," Juno said. "With Achilles."
"Of course," Demeter said. "It'll serve him right."
---
Achilles and Patroclus were lounging around the tent, watching Briseis as she tried to straighten up the mess around them. The girl's dark hair and dark skin looked almost warm in the light of the lantern. She grabbed a bundle of blankets from the floor, her black tunic inching up as she did so. She suddenly realized the men had grown quiet, and whipped around in time to see Patroclus bending over to get a better look. Scowling, she wadded the blankets up, threw them in Achilles' face, and stomped out.
Patroclus was laughing so hard he almost drowned out Achilles' loud "RAWR!" The younger man left the tent to throw a few more teasing insults after the woman, and when the tent flap closed behind him, Juno stood there, radiant and proud.
Achilles hastily stood up, shoving the blankets behind him while inclining his head slightly, rather less than most would in the presence of the goddess.
Juno, of course, noticed this, and her face took on a bit more of an edge than it usually had. "Achilles."
"My Queen," Achilles said, raising an eyebrow, but inclining his head lower this time.
Juno rolled her eyes. The nerve of some these half-mortals was almost comical. "Let's just cut to the chase, shall we?" She swung her golden plait around her shoulder, stroking it as she spoke. "Apollo will not rest until Agamemnon returns the girl to his priest. You are going to do whatever you need to do to calm him down." She ignored Achilles' muffled groan. "I would suggest an assembly. Calchus may have something to say. And straighten up in here," she said, looking around the tent. "Your mother would be ashamed of you."
"That's what Briseis is for," Achilles muttered.
Juno's eyes lit a little at this. "She is not your slave."
"Actually, she is," Achilles retorted. "Agamemnon gave her to me because I am the best warrior he has. To the victor go the womenfolk," he said, imitating Juno's overdramatic emphasis.
"We'll see about that," Juno snapped. "An assembly. NOW." She disappeared before Achilles could reply.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Iliad, Book 1.1
"YOU WILL NOT EVEN FUCKING BELIEVE THIS!!"
The gods could hear Apollo raging before he even entered the throneroom at Olympus. They exchanged uneasy looks.
Apollo burst through the doorway, his bow in his hand, a silver arrow on the string, his finger twitching as he held it in place. "AFTER ALL OF THIS! AGAMEMNON HAS THE COLOSSAL NERVE TO SHUN ONE OF MY PRIESTS!"
"Shuuuuuun the nonbeliever!" Ares murmured under his breath, and Aphrodite chuckled.
Apollo whipped around to face Ares, his muscles rippling as he brought his bow up to his shoulder in the blink of an eye, his shining arrow a hair's breadth away from Ares' forehead.
Minerva was on her feet in the same second, her steady hand and grey eyes on her twin's strong arm.
"Tell us what happened."
Apollo, barely conceling a growl, launched into his story like a raging bull. "THAT FUCKING SO-CALLED KING, AGAMEMNON. HE SPURNED CHRYSES, MY PRIEST, AND--" Minerva gently guided her brother to his seat as he raved, then placed his lyre in his hands, taking the bow from him. "HE-- HE--" Apollo paused for a moment, tuning the lyre without thinking.
Ares smothered a laugh.
The son of Zeus and Leta started at this sound, his hand cutting across the strings so violently that one snapped. "OOOOOOOOOOOOOH NOW HE IS DEAD," the god raged, throwing the lyre at Ares, grabbing his bow, and turning on his heel. He was gone before anyone could stop him.
"Who's gonna tell Zeus?" Aphrodite asked, looking from Ares to Minerva to the fire, where Hestia sat poking the coals. "Not it!"
"NOT IT!" Ares yelled, rubbing his forearm where the lyre had hit home. "Besides," he said, with an almost apologetic look to Minerva, whose eyes were narrowing at him, "I believe Apollo requires my services." With that, he grabbed his spear and started for the doorway.
He was about halfway there when Jupiter himself came around the corner, filling the entryway with his enormous frame. "What's going on in here?" he asked. "I was... uh, busy." He hastily tucked his robe into place, smoothing his disheveled hair.
Ares raised an eyebrow at Minerva, motioning to her with his spear.
Minerva stood up, her long legs gleaming in the gentle firelight, and hooked a finger into the belt of her short tunic. "Apollo has suffered some slight." She spoke evenly, her eyes steady on her father. "He has gone to repay the humans their disservice."
"Well why are you bothering ME about it?" Jupiter grumbled. "I was BUSY! By my bolt, you are a needy lot. Just let him go, I'm sure he'll get distracted by the lullaby of a stream and fizzle out before he finds the one responsible."
Minerva pursed her lips. Didn't say a word, but Aphrodite saw it in her eyes-- "I won't beg you to take me seriously." She turned on her heel, grabbed her own quiver, and was gone in an instant.
"I'm going back to-- uh--" Jupiter stumbled for a second, and Aphrodite picked him right up.
"Back to your business?" she said sweetly, her long eyelashes fanning down in a wink.
"Er....right." Jupiter said. "Well, at least-- you know how it is," he said, half apologetically.
"Say no more," Aphrodite said, and with a wave of her hand, Jupiter took on an even more godlike appearance, if that were possible, his hair positively curling with virility.
"Right!" he cried. "And I'm off!" Gone.
Aphrodite chuckled, laid back on her couch, languidly fed herself a deep purple grape. This was all so much fun.
ETA: I know, I know, I'm mixing Greek and Roman. I gotta fix it, just not now.
The gods could hear Apollo raging before he even entered the throneroom at Olympus. They exchanged uneasy looks.
Apollo burst through the doorway, his bow in his hand, a silver arrow on the string, his finger twitching as he held it in place. "AFTER ALL OF THIS! AGAMEMNON HAS THE COLOSSAL NERVE TO SHUN ONE OF MY PRIESTS!"
"Shuuuuuun the nonbeliever!" Ares murmured under his breath, and Aphrodite chuckled.
Apollo whipped around to face Ares, his muscles rippling as he brought his bow up to his shoulder in the blink of an eye, his shining arrow a hair's breadth away from Ares' forehead.
Minerva was on her feet in the same second, her steady hand and grey eyes on her twin's strong arm.
"Tell us what happened."
Apollo, barely conceling a growl, launched into his story like a raging bull. "THAT FUCKING SO-CALLED KING, AGAMEMNON. HE SPURNED CHRYSES, MY PRIEST, AND--" Minerva gently guided her brother to his seat as he raved, then placed his lyre in his hands, taking the bow from him. "HE-- HE--" Apollo paused for a moment, tuning the lyre without thinking.
Ares smothered a laugh.
The son of Zeus and Leta started at this sound, his hand cutting across the strings so violently that one snapped. "OOOOOOOOOOOOOH NOW HE IS DEAD," the god raged, throwing the lyre at Ares, grabbing his bow, and turning on his heel. He was gone before anyone could stop him.
"Who's gonna tell Zeus?" Aphrodite asked, looking from Ares to Minerva to the fire, where Hestia sat poking the coals. "Not it!"
"NOT IT!" Ares yelled, rubbing his forearm where the lyre had hit home. "Besides," he said, with an almost apologetic look to Minerva, whose eyes were narrowing at him, "I believe Apollo requires my services." With that, he grabbed his spear and started for the doorway.
He was about halfway there when Jupiter himself came around the corner, filling the entryway with his enormous frame. "What's going on in here?" he asked. "I was... uh, busy." He hastily tucked his robe into place, smoothing his disheveled hair.
Ares raised an eyebrow at Minerva, motioning to her with his spear.
Minerva stood up, her long legs gleaming in the gentle firelight, and hooked a finger into the belt of her short tunic. "Apollo has suffered some slight." She spoke evenly, her eyes steady on her father. "He has gone to repay the humans their disservice."
"Well why are you bothering ME about it?" Jupiter grumbled. "I was BUSY! By my bolt, you are a needy lot. Just let him go, I'm sure he'll get distracted by the lullaby of a stream and fizzle out before he finds the one responsible."
Minerva pursed her lips. Didn't say a word, but Aphrodite saw it in her eyes-- "I won't beg you to take me seriously." She turned on her heel, grabbed her own quiver, and was gone in an instant.
"I'm going back to-- uh--" Jupiter stumbled for a second, and Aphrodite picked him right up.
"Back to your business?" she said sweetly, her long eyelashes fanning down in a wink.
"Er....right." Jupiter said. "Well, at least-- you know how it is," he said, half apologetically.
"Say no more," Aphrodite said, and with a wave of her hand, Jupiter took on an even more godlike appearance, if that were possible, his hair positively curling with virility.
"Right!" he cried. "And I'm off!" Gone.
Aphrodite chuckled, laid back on her couch, languidly fed herself a deep purple grape. This was all so much fun.
ETA: I know, I know, I'm mixing Greek and Roman. I gotta fix it, just not now.
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