Disclaimer: I do not own anything but Asteria she is mine!

"If you stay you will live a long and happy life, you will have sons and then they will have sons but you will not be remembered by any but your family. If you go to Troy you will find everlasting glory, they will write stories of your greatness but your glory walks hand in hand with your doom. For if you go to Troy, I will never see you again."

Achilles played his mother's words in his head wondering if this once she could be wrong. He looked over to his cousin and remembered his mother's cryptic message to him. "You will go to Troy but it is there that you will find your happiness but like my son if you go I shall never see you again."

He shuttered as he recalled the words. He knew that one could change their own destiny and he was determined that his cousin live to return to Phtia even if he himself never would. As he looked out over the water towards the beaches of Troy he decided to keep Patroclus from fighting. True he had taught the young man himself everything he knew about fighting but he also knew that his cousin was not ready to face the reality of war. As they sailed faster towards the shores of Troy he gave a rousing speech to his men and afterwards told Patroclus they he was to stay with the ship. His cousin reacted exactly as he thought he would but told him that he could not concentrate on the battle if he had to worry about him. As they pulled ashore, the first ship to do so, Patroclus reluctantly stayed with the ship as his cousin went off to capture the beach of Troy.

Patroclus set up his tent as well as helped the servants that had been brought with them, set up the other tents as well. While unloading the ship he saw two of the Myrmidons returning with two captives but he could not tell if they were male or female. He saw them being brought to his cousins tent and being left there. It wasn't long before Achilles returned and was shown into his tent. Patroclus returned to his own tent at that still angry that he had not been included in the fight. Minutes later, he heard a commotion outside his tent and then Eudorus the Captain of the Myrmidons and his cousins right hand came in bringing with him a girl.

"Achilles is giving this girl to you as compensation for not allowing you to join us today," he said as he left leaving the trembling girl staring after him.

He took a moment to look the girl over. He took a moment to look the girl over taking in her dark hair hanging in loose waves down her back and the white robes she was wearing. t first glance he found himself pulled to her though he had no idea as to why. She stirred in him something he had never felt before.

"What's your name?" he asked her softly coming to stand right in front of her.

She refused to answer him instead looking everywhere but at him but he caught the look of fear in her eyes. "I promise no harm will come to you by my hand." he stated running a hand up her arm noticing the reaction his light touch was causing her.

He felt her shiver and continued the light caress wishing she would look at him again as he wanted to look into her lovely brown eyes that almost seemed golden in their color. Again he asked her what her name was and still she refused to answer but she did turn her head back towards him at his words. He could see that she was studying him as he had her.

Asteria looked at the man who looked so much like the warrior who still held her twin sister captive. He had that same blonde hair but instead of piercing blue eyes this youth had hazel. Eyes which had traveled over her form and made her feel something she had never felt before. Feelings she wasn't sure she liked or not. His touch was gentle and she found herself reacting though not voluntarily. His touch was awakening something within her she had never felt before but found that she didn't want him to stop. As she studied him she could see that he was not as built as the other man but if given the chance he would be. She wondered silently at his age for he didn't look much older than herself and she and her sister were only eighteen. As she watched him she noticed that he seemed restless and silently wondered if it had anything to do with not being allowed to join in the fighting that day. Finally she decided to grace him with her name. "Asteria. My name is Asteria. What is your name? Or am I to call you master as I am your captive now," she asked softly.

"Patroclus. You may call me by my name as you are not my slave only my captive. Your name though...you were named after the goddess of the stars and prophetic dreams."

She looked up at him sharply at that and then after a moment she nodded slowly though said nothing. He gently removed her bound wrists. "Asteria may I ask how old are you?"

"She again looked up at him and then softly answered him. "I am eighteen."

He nodded and then gave her use of the basin to clean herself up as well as a clean garment to wear then he walked out of his tent to give her some privacy.

Patroclus sat outside his tent wondering what he was going to do with his captive. He knew that his cousin had given her to him for another reason but he couldn't find it in himself to take the girl. Not that he didn't want to but he had told her that no harm would come to her by his hand and he was going to stand by his word. He got up and stopped a servant boy to sit outside his tent to guard his captive then went out to seek his cousin.