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A week after warning Achilles of the prophecy pertaining to the death of the best of Myrmidions, Thetis enters the young man’s tent again. “I have been granted another glimpse of the future” began the goddess “and know who the best of the Myrmidions is”. Shocked by the sudden arrival of his mother it took a moment for Achilles to reply. “Who is it?” he questioned.
“You will not like the answer” cautioned Thetis, aware of her son's impulsive nature. “Why come here if you do not wish me to know” demanded Achilles.
“I shall tell you, the person the prophecy is saying is the best of the Myrmidions and will die before you” though I cannot agree with the earlier part "is Patroclus your lover”. She said the last word with so much venom that you would think she said a curse. Thetis continued to speak but Achilles could not hear her over the ringing in his ears. Sinking down onto his knees and tangling his hands in hair Achilles began to speak. “No no not him not Patroclus no I” he was cut off with a sob that racked through his whole body. Realising that she could do nothing Thetis began to leave but stalled at the door when she heard her son speak. “Do something, petition Zeus or the fates, someone please I can’t live without him” he begged.
“Have done you a kindness by telling you all that I know, I can do no more. Goodbye”

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Not long later Patroclus entered the tent after spending the day in the medical tent. “Achilles, I'm back” he called out to his lover. Hearing muffled sobs and hyperventilating from the back of the tent Patroclus went to investigate. There he saw Achilles crying in the bed they share.
“Achilles what happens are you injured”
“No not me” he choked out. “Then who?” asked Patroclus.
“You”
“What do you mean”
“My mother came, she she said that it was you who was - is - the best of the Myrmydions”
“Oh”
“Don’t you understand you're going to die, I am going to have to live without you, I” He was cut off by another sob. “I am sorry that you will have to live after my death but as soon as we left for troy I knew I would not live to see its end if you would not”
“No, don't say that you have to live, you have to, you are so good, so much better than me.”
“It’s okay Achilles there’s nothing we can do about it” consoled Patroclus.
“No there is, there has to be because I chose the prophecy for my death there were two options there must be for you as well. We could leave today I wouldn’t be aristos achaon then”
“That wouldn’t work I would probably still die and the war needs you, you can’t let them be decimated not for me”
“I would do anything for you, Patroclus. I would fight the gods themselves to make you smile.”
“Don’t do that it would be stupid and we still can’t do anything about the prophecy”
“What if I killed Hector tomorrow and died before you could, then you could live happily”
“Don’t do that don’t pretend your live is less important than mine it isn’t and it never has been, not to anybody”
“It is to me” yelled Achilles.

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Some time later after Achilles had refused to fight, Patroclus once again returned to their tent from the medical tent. “Achilles” he called out. “Back here,” Achilles replied. “I have something to say and you must not interrupt me until I am done”. Achilles nodded, agreeing to hear him out. “You have to fight Achilles. I know Agamemnon slighted you but is that truly more important than the lives of so many people, ” Patroclus began “you have to know how much suffering you are causing, please Achilles I am begging you”. “I will not fight we are leaving tomorrow” declared Achilles “this is not just my honour I do this for you as well we would have left as soon as we understood the prophecy but we will now and you will be safe”.
“We still do not know whether I will be any safer at Troy or away from it and once again the possibility of me living a little longer is not worth the lives that are being lost out there Achilles. They will lose this war without you.”
“Then let them lose, it does not matter to me” shouted Achilles. He took a step back clearly not meaning to yell but the damage was already done.
“I do not know you anymore,” Patroclus said as he walked out of the tent and did not return until the morning.

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The next morning Achilles woke up and rolled over expecting Patroclus’ warmth but finding nothing but cold sheets. He got up intending to find Patroclus and apologise but as he looked to the corner of the room he noticed that his armor was missing. He ran out of the tent and towards the battle field where the tide was obviously turning because of the influence of the counterfeit Achilles. He grabbed a sword from a startled passing soldier and began to cut his way through the trojan ranks in an attempt to find his lover, the words of the prophecy running through his head the whole time. He burst into the area Patroclus was in just in time to see a spear thrown by Hector bury itself into the stomach of his beloved, his philtatos. Achilles then made a sound so raw and full of pain that the approaching Trojans and Greeks both took a step back and dared not approach him. Achilles dropped down the ground beside Patroclus and tried to slow the bleeding whilst saying his name and various comforts that were meant for himself as much as the dying man in his arms. “Achilles” Patroclus said weakly, grabbing Achilles' arm “stop there is no point I will die here and we both know it”.
“No you will live you have to live please Patroclus live, I am so sorry this is all my fault”
“No it’s not Achilles I chose to come out here the prophecy said I would die and I chose it to be today” and with that he stilled.