@whatissleepeven since I know you like these.
HRNGH, Cu Chulainn and Achilles good!
Disclaimer: Some of these drabbles are not presented entirely accurately to the source material they are drawn from. They are not meant to be entirely accurate. That being said, I hope you enjoy, and constructive criticism is always welcomed and encouraged.
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To Stake it all on a Dream
“Achilles, son of Peleus,” Thetis said, her voice singing out like the waves of the ocean, “If you choose not to venture out to the Trojan War, you shall grow old. You shall have a family you love, with whom you love…but your name will not be remembered. No one will remember the name Achilles.”
“If you go to the Trojan War, your life will not see its end. You will flicker out of existence, killed in battle. But, your name shall be sung in the halls of history, none shall forget the name Achilles.”
Achilles stared at his mother before him, heard her declare the prophecy that laid out his fate. All that rested to him now was his decision.
A home in Peleus’ kingdom, ruling over it. Maybe having adopted some children, maybe taking a concubine or two to sire them.
By his side, Achilles could see him. Patroclus, his shining smile, his beautiful face, his dark eyes. Happy together, the two could be. Away from the bloodshed of the Trojan War.
It would be just the two of them, happy-
“Of course I’m going to the Trojan War.” Achilles smirked, “There’s nothing in the world that could make me turn down such an opportunity to become a hero!”
Thetis had not even been able to take a breath before Achilles answer had come.
The room broke into cheers as the assembled crowds heard that the great Achilles, son of Peleus, said to be the greatest warrior of their generation, agreed to fight.
Only one did not cheer. One stood wide-eyed and shocked. The one who stood closest to Achilles.
The expression on his face was...unreadable, unknowable.
Those words had come out of Achilles mouth...and all Patroclus could do was allow them to echo in his mind, over and over again.
Thousands of miles away, in a distant land, another would come to make a similar decision to Achilles.
Cu Chulainn, not even six years old, was skipping through the halls of his Uncle, Conchobar Mac Nessa, when he overheard the Druid Cathbad speak those fateful words.
Whoever takes up arms on this day shall go down in history as our greatest hero.
Cathbad was obviously not finished speaking, but Cu Chulainn shot off, sprinting down the halls faster than any child should be able to.
He burst into his uncle’s room, demanding, “Uncle! I must take up arms today!”
Later that day, when Cu Chulainn had finally found weapons that did not break under his great strength, Cathbad burst in, crying.
“You fool!” The druid chastised, “Whoever takes up arms today may be a Great Hero, but they are doomed to live a short life!”
“I’m fine with that,” Cu Chulainn smirked, “So long as I am a Hero, I would be fine with just living one day, not one thing could convince me from the path!”
Conchobar merely laughed at his nephew, a humorless laugh. But, it was set in the stars now. Cu Chulainn would become Ireland’s greatest hero…
Achilles and Cu Chulainn. Greek’s Greatest and Ulster’s Greatest.
To live gloriously and die young.
What could motivate someone to make such a decision?
Ambition and Pride, that’s what. The desire to stake one’s life on their legacy, to choose to burn like a fire. Brightly, beautifully, but briefly.
Achilles and Cu Chulainn, to people so far away, but so close together. Two people who chose to cling to their hopes, their goals, their ideals, their dreams. To loudly declare, “I’ll throw it all away for my dream!”
That is a trait of something Achilles and Cu Chulainn were.
To be able to stake it all on a dream.
That is the trait of a Hero.
