[ First there had been confusion, waking up in an unfamiliar bed, a dreamlike haze, a day lost to memory except for Achilles. And Patroclus had been held in his arms, had laid on his shoulder, had breathed him in and wept on him and laid with him to rest. He had woken up alone and unmoving, tracing the grass where it lay flat, a lasting imprint. And then as the days went on, he thought perhaps he had rolled over in his sleep, given a gift of a kiss-sweet dream, and put his heart to rest on the matter.
Then there was the fire, and through the sweat and soot and filth, he had tried to evacuate the tavern as best he could, and now stands around the camp ferrying supplies, pushing off a well-needed wash for "later", always later as more people filter in and more needs to be added to their stores.
He thinks that perhaps he is imagining things when he hears his name spoken, when he hears Achilles' voice. And then he looks over and stops right where he is, knits his brows as if giving it some thought. He had felt so real last time, as well. As real as this. ]
How could it be that my spirit pass to Hades, when it is you who sees fit to haunt him whose life's thread is all but cut? Once already, I have suffered imagining you like this only to lose you again. I know this, that you have much left before you must join me cross the river Styx, and even I have not yet paid my toll to the ferryman, and thus it can only be true that we are both alive. But do not deceive my heart this time, Achilles, and leave me bereft of your embrace as rose-colored dawn makes disappear the night.
[ He reaches out with trepidation and touches the bracelet of horsehair. It could not be a dream, if he is having the same one again. As his fingers close around Achilles' arm, he pulls himself in and allows himself to collapse against Achilles' form. ]
It is not the Fates that brought me here, and instead ALISTAIR! Though if our reunion is brought about by their cohort, dearest friend, then I say to that we owe them a debt.
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Then there was the fire, and through the sweat and soot and filth, he had tried to evacuate the tavern as best he could, and now stands around the camp ferrying supplies, pushing off a well-needed wash for "later", always later as more people filter in and more needs to be added to their stores.
He thinks that perhaps he is imagining things when he hears his name spoken, when he hears Achilles' voice. And then he looks over and stops right where he is, knits his brows as if giving it some thought. He had felt so real last time, as well. As real as this. ]
How could it be that my spirit pass to Hades, when it is you who sees fit to haunt him whose life's thread is all but cut? Once already, I have suffered imagining you like this only to lose you again. I know this, that you have much left before you must join me cross the river Styx, and even I have not yet paid my toll to the ferryman, and thus it can only be true that we are both alive. But do not deceive my heart this time, Achilles, and leave me bereft of your embrace as rose-colored dawn makes disappear the night.
[ He reaches out with trepidation and touches the bracelet of horsehair. It could not be a dream, if he is having the same one again. As his fingers close around Achilles' arm, he pulls himself in and allows himself to collapse against Achilles' form. ]
It is not the Fates that brought me here, and instead ALISTAIR! Though if our reunion is brought about by their cohort, dearest friend, then I say to that we owe them a debt.