Week 3 Story: Achille's Sacrifice

Patroclus fighting Hector the Trojan prince

This legend begins at the ancient Greek city of Troy where the forces of Greece all gathered to help their king's brother Menelaus get his bride Helen back from the Trojans as the Trojan Prince, Paris, had stolen her from Sparta. Achilles and his dear friend Patroclus were in Achille's tent as Patroclus was trying to get Achilles to rejoin the Greek forces. Achilles was completely against the notion as he had been shamed by the king of the Greeks, Agamemnon by having his plunder taken from him for speaking out against him earlier in the siege. Patroclus knew the end was near for the Greeks as the god Zeus himself was on the side of the Trojans due to a deal Achilles made through his mother, Thetis, out of anger after Agamemnon's actions. The Greek ships were being burned by the Trojans as they spoke and Patroclus begged Achilles to at least let him use his armor to go into the battle and potentially turn the tide of the battle. Achilles reluctantly agreed and offered him a prayer to the gods as he left to keep him safe in the coming fight. Patroclus led the Greek forces from Achille's homeland in his signature armor and chariot to the Greek ships like a bolt of lightning from Zeus himself. Patroclus took down ten men before taking down the Trojan general Sarpedon. This caused the Trojans to retreat from the ships and give the Greeks a chance to save them all while being viewed by the mighty Trojan prince Hector. Hector saw Patroclus and his men charging his way, but stayed calm as he knew he was the superior fighter as well as having the god Zeus on his side. Hector and Patroclus met and exchanged blows as they whizzed by one another, with Patroclus taking a significant hit causing him to have to take a large turn to evade Hector momentarily. Achilles back in his tent felt a strange dread as if he knew his best friend was in danger, so he sprung on his feet and with only his famed Pelian spear. Achilles moving as swift as an arrow towards the battle could now see Hector and Patroclus clashing about 500 yards away. Achilles could tell Patroclus was weakening and lowered his head and began to take an adrenaline-fueled sprint towards the battle. Achilles took a massive leap and took a plunge at Hector as he stood over a near-defenseless Patroclus. Hector noticed Achilles attempt to save his countryman and flung his spear wildly to try and land a blow, but only grazed Achilles' heel before Achilles' speared plunged through his heart. Patroclus let out a cry as he saw Achille and Hector crumple to the ground as he knew from a feelin deep in the pit of his stomach that Achilles was gone. A golden aura rose from Achille's body as he was carried to Mount Olympus to be honored by the gods by his mother Thetis, and prophesied that Patroclus would be victorious in the siege of Troy thanks to Achilles' sacrifice.

Author's Notes:
First established a bit of background information that was the original myth to let reader's know the story's setting. Then changed the ending of Homer's Illiad by not having Patroclus die to HEctor, but instead have Achilles sacrifice himself to save him. This also differntiates from the original material as PAris does not kill Achilles by firing a bow at his heel, but instead by Hector.
Bibliography:
http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-homers-iliad-retold.html
(From the UN-Textbook)