Shining Eyes, Part 1 (original) (raw)

Being the first part of a series of vignettes.

Vignette title: Torchlight
Pairing: Achilles/Patroclus
Rating: PG
Warnings: It's not slash, it's canon! May possibly be considered purple prose.

Your eyes were shining in the torchlight, my beloved, and I could not breathe for wanting. I sat at my place, far down the table from you as befits one of lesser rank, and though I spoke to others, I could not tear my eyes from you. You were so beautiful, my beloved, more beautiful than any mere mortal could hope to match, and so far beyond my reach. Your hair was deep gold and copper in the flickering torchlight as shadows came and went upon your head. The merest spark from a torch set new lights and darks to dancing in the living metal of your gorgeous hair. I could have stared at you all night and not seen the same pattern twice. I could ave stared at you all night.

But your eyes, my beloved, your eyes! They glimmered in the light, the same golden color of the flames. I knew, I was sure your eyes were grey, but in that light they were the yellow of ripe wheat and leaping fire. Your eyes, my beloved, were so alive that night! They seemed to laugh at everything, focusing on nothing. Your eyes that night could never cry. They had reflected the torchlight onto their grey depths, and you had become the flame.

I watched you all evening, my beloved, and still I could not bring myself to look away for even a moment. I ate without seeing what I touched, spoke without seeing whom I addressed, prayed without hearing my own words, for you were all my eyes could see. You were everything that could ever be. Why should I wish to look elsewhere?

You might have turned your head and seen me, my beloved, and still I would have gazed at your perfect face, your flowing hair, your eyes like flames. You could have killed me then, my beloved, and I would never have stirred to stop you. You were everything that mattered. I could not stop wanting you.

I wanted you then, my beloved, as I had wanted you since first my eyes met yours, and yet so much more, for I knew you now as I had not known you then. I wanted you more than anything upon the earth. The gods themselves could have offered me all the wealth of the world, all the power of the kings, all the life they themselves possessed, and it would have mattered nought. You, my beloved, could not be bought for riches or might or eternal life. No one could give me you, the only thing I would ever want.

My breath froze in my chest with every movement of your hands, my beloved, with every shifting of the shadows on your perfect body. I could not breathe while the turning of your face granted me a glimpse of your beautiful eyes. I wanted you so, and you were so far beyond my reach. I died a thousand times when you turned away, and lived a thousand times when you turned back. O, my beloved, how I wanted you that night!

Your eyes were like leaping flames, my beloved. I burned in them that night.

So, comments? Criticisms? Words of wit or wisdom?
[x-posted to greek_love and rarelitslash