"Achilles, get your butt down here, it's time to leave and we cannot be late again this year." Thetis yells up the staircase at her son.
It was that time of year again, the time for the dreaded family reunion. Achilles was grudgingly getting ready to join his extended family for a lunch and then games after. His mother, Thetis, was urging him to hurry or they would be late, "And you know how your grandfather Zeus hates late comers."He knew, he just didn't care. The only highlight of this stupid day would be getting to see his Patroclus. Patroclus, his younger cousin, was actually the one person he really cared about in his life, other than his mother.
After his mother and Patroclus, Achilles cared about spears and horses. He loved learning new tricks with his spear and practicing throwing them into the large target they had in the yard. He was incredibly good. In fact, no one could beat him except perhaps his cousin Hector.
Time to go
After arriving at the reunion the necessary rounds were made to say hello to all the relatives.
Thetis and Zeus seemed very upset about the newest addition to the family, Helen. Her arrival and marriage to Hector's brother, Paris, had caused quit the family scandal. Achilles really did not care, he just thought of Paris as a stupid, weak boy and he could not understand how he managed to attract such a pretty woman.
It took only a moment for Achilles to spot Patroclus and then he took off running to hug his cousin and go practice spear throwing for the competition later that day.
"How have you been", he asked Patroclus.
"I suppose okay. I've really practicing my throws. I think I can finally take Hector." he replied.
"Don't be stupid, Pat. We both know I'm the only one in the family who could possibly beat him. You really shouldn't try just yet. Maybe next year, when you're a little older."
Patroclus slinked off angry that Achilles did not believe in him. "I wish he would have a little more faith in me" he thought. "I have been working so hard to improve on my accuracy. He might even be surprised."
Finally, lunch was over and it was time for the games to begin.
As usual Uncle Priam was in prime condition, drunk and bragging about his amazing boys: "Paris has managed to capture the prettiest wife in the country and Hector can never be beat when it comes to spear play."
His sister Thetis just roles her eyes as his daughter in law, Andromache (wife of Hector), tries to calm their new born baby.
Achilles just seethed quietly after listening to his uncle. He would prove him wrong, this was the year he was finally going to beat Hector and show his grandfather and uncle that he was the best in the family.
The spear competition began, Patroclus, much to Achilles dismay, insisted on trying to win this year. He knew that Hector and Paris would crush his spirits once they beat him. They could be very cruel to the boy, calling him terrible names and breaking his spears in half when he lost.
As expected, Patroclus lost to Hector in the first round and rushed off to be on his own while Paris laughed and called after him about what a little baby he was and how he would never be able to defeat Hector.
A seething Achilles took the stage. There were three rounds, Achilles would have to fight Hector with his spear until someone drew blood, then they would throw it at the targets twice. Whoever won two out of three would be the family champion that year in the Trojan Games. The greatest honor given to young men of their time.
The fight was intense, Hector had the advantage several times, but finally it was Achilles who drew first blood in the shoulder.
Now to throw the spears, Hector won he first toss. "Dammit, he's accurate. It's like he never wavers or gets frustrated." Achilles thought to himself, "I just have to stay calm and breathe through the throw. No big deal. I do this everyday."
He drew back and the released, dead center. Achilles had finally beat his older cousin. It had only taken him five years. For the first time in eight years, there would be a new family champion and his name was Achilles!
Paris was beside himself, he had reaped many benefits of his brother being champion, he even tried to rush Achilles with own spear. Grandfather called out, "ENOUGH, the competition was fair and I am proud to present our new champion, my grandson, Achilles."
Priam quickly gathered his boys and their wives and stormed out of the arena, he had never dreamed his sister's bastard boy would be able to take the crown from his own son. Better breeding, Hector should never have lost.
Achilles went off to find Patroclus and proclaim the great news, "I have finally done it, and now that I champion, they will not pick on you every again. Come out now, they are gone and we must celebrate."
And so it was a new family tradition began, one of the champion Achilles for he could never be beaten.
Author's Note:
This story was loosely based on the The Iliad Retold by Alfred J. Church. This retelling of the famous Epic poem was an incredible read and really brought the many family ties that are incorporated into the story of Achilles and the defeat of the Trojans. Which is what inspired me to write a story of a family reunion. The real story of the Iliad is two nations pitted against each other because Paris of Troy has stolen away the "Face that launched a thousand ships", Helen. The countries fight for many years and Priam, king of Troy, strongly believes in his son Hector to save them. In the end Achilles, champion of Greece, kills him after becoming angry over the death of his beloved cousin, Patroclus. It was these themes that I decided to incorporate into a story of my own.
