Warnings: Deaths, War, (Greek mythology spoilers???)
I was there: Achilles’ sorrow
I will never forget the gloomy sensation that took over the battlefield that day. The sun was shining bright on top of our heads, as if the gods were pulling a prank on us and our commander wasn’t lying motionless on the ground. I was standing a few feet away from him when the arrow pierced his heel, he had seemed invincible, until he stumbled and the whole world seemed to go silent.
For the past few days since Achilles had decided to step down from the battle, we had been overwhelmed. Trojan troops were gaining terrain, many of my companions had fallen, and the healers’ cabins were packed with wounded soldiers. So when, like a beam of sunlight sneaking through storm clouds, Achilles appeared dashing in his chariot and breaking through our enemies’ defences, the tables were turned. A battle cry echoed amongst our soldiers, and we all charged.
We managed to advance following the prince’s lead, the walls of Troy were getting closer, that’s when everything went wrong. It wasn’t until he hit the ground, and his helmet rolled out that we realised we hadn’t been following Achilles. It was Patroclus laying still on the floor. I froze, he was a nice guy, our best healer and most importantly, Achilles’ dearest friend.
I still don’t know how he found out, who was the soldier brave enough to break the news to him. I just know that when Achilles –the real one –joined the battle, he looked completely changed. He charged relentlessly against our enemies. I had never witnessed such bloodshed, he was the most glorious warrior I had ever seen, but he had such a sad look in his eyes.
The Trojans were falling back, too scared to approach our commander, and I couldn’t blame them, so were we. But he kept slashing in the search of a revenge that he finally got, and it cost him his life. I saw the arrow deep burying itself in his heel, I felt the world stop. That day, we won a battle, but we lost the best warrior Greece had ever seen.
