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Achilles was the son of a king and a goddess, and the greatest warrior of his age. He had fought in many battles, and his fame had spread throughout Greece and beyond. He was handsome, brave, and skilled, and he had everything he wanted.

Except for one thing.

He wanted Patroclus.

Patroclus was his cousin, his friend, his companion. He had grown up with Achilles, and they had shared everything. They had trained together, fought together, laughed together. They had also loved each other, in secret.

Achilles knew that their love was forbidden by the gods and by society. He knew that he was expected to marry a princess and produce an heir. He knew that Patroclus was destined to die by his side in the Trojan War.

But he didn’t care.

He loved Patroclus more than anything, and he wanted to be with him forever.

He decided to ask the Oracle of Delphi for advice. The Oracle was a priestess who spoke the words of Apollo, the god of prophecy. She could see the past, the present, and the future, and she could answer any question.

Achilles traveled to Delphi with Patroclus, hoping to find a way to escape their fate. He brought a rich offering for the god, and waited in line for his turn.

When he finally entered the temple, he knelt before the Oracle, who sat on a tripod over a crack in the earth. She was in a trance, inhaling the vapors that rose from the depths. She looked at Achilles with her eyes wide and unfocused.

“Speak your question, son of Peleus,” she said in a raspy voice.

Achilles cleared his throat and said:

“O Oracle, I love Patroclus more than life itself. How can I be with him without angering the gods or dishonoring my family?”

The Oracle closed her eyes and tilted her head. She seemed to listen to something only she could hear. Then she opened her eyes again and said:

“You have two choices, son of Peleus. You can choose glory or love. You can choose to be the greatest hero of your time, or you can choose to be happy with your beloved.”

Achilles felt a pang of fear and hope in his chest. He asked:

“What do you mean? What are the consequences of each choice?”

The Oracle said:

“If you choose glory, you will go to Troy and fight for Helen. You will win many honors and fame. You will kill Hector, the prince of Troy, and avenge your friend’s death. But you will also die young, by an arrow shot by Paris. Your name will live forever in song and story, but your body will be burned on a pyre.”

Achilles shuddered at the thought of dying so soon. He asked:

“And if I choose love?”

The Oracle said:

“If you choose love, you will not go to Troy. You will stay with Patroclus in Phthia, your homeland. You will marry him and live happily with him. You will have children by him and grow old with him. But you will also lose your fame and honor. Your name will be forgotten by history, but your heart will be full of joy.”

Achilles felt a surge of warmth and happiness in his chest. He asked:

“Is there no other way? Can I not have both?”

The Oracle shook her head and said:

“No, son of Peleus. You cannot have both. You must choose one or the other. Glory or love. Which one do you choose?”

Achilles looked at Patroclus, who was standing behind him. He saw his beautiful face, his kind eyes, his gentle smile. He felt his love for him, stronger than anything else.

He knew what he had to do.

He turned to the Oracle and said:

“I choose love.”

---

The Oracle nodded and said:

“Very well, son of Peleus. You have made your choice. Go and be happy with your beloved. But remember this: the gods are jealous and capricious. They may not approve of your decision. They may try to interfere with your happiness. Be careful and be faithful. And may Apollo bless you and your love.”

Achilles thanked the Oracle and left the temple with Patroclus. He felt a mix of relief and anxiety. He had chosen love over glory, but he didn’t know what that meant for his future. He didn’t know how his father, his king, his comrades would react. He didn’t know how the gods would react.

But he knew one thing: he loved Patroclus more than anything, and he wanted to be with him forever.

He took Patroclus’ hand and said:

“Come, my love. Let’s go home.”

Patroclus smiled and said:

“Yes, my love. Let’s go home.”

They mounted their horses and rode away from Delphi, towards Phthia. They left behind the war, the fame, the destiny that awaited them in Troy. They chose a different path, a path of love.

They didn’t know what the future would bring, but they knew they would face it together.

Achilles and Patroclus arrived in Phthia after a long journey. They were greeted by Achilles’ father, King Peleus, who was surprised to see them.

“My son, what are you doing here?” he asked. “I thought you were going to Troy with the other kings and heroes. I thought you were going to fight for Helen and for Greece.”

Achilles looked at his father and said:

“Father, I have something to tell you. Something important. Something that may shock you.”

Peleus raised his eyebrows and said:

“What is it, my son? You can tell me anything.”

Achilles took a deep breath and said:

“Father, I love Patroclus. He is my cousin, my friend, my companion. He is also my lover. We have been together for a long time, in secret. We have come here to ask for your blessing. We want to marry and live here with you.”

Peleus was stunned. He looked at Achilles and Patroclus, who were holding hands and looking at him with hopeful eyes. He felt a wave of emotions: shock, anger, confusion, sadness.

He loved his son more than anything, but he also had expectations for him. He wanted him to be a great king, a great warrior, a great hero. He wanted him to marry a princess and produce an heir. He wanted him to follow the will of the gods and the traditions of men.

He didn’t want him to be a lover of men.

He didn’t know what to say.

He opened his mouth and said:

Peleus opened his mouth and said:

“My son, I don’t understand. How can you love Patroclus? How can you forsake your duty to your country, your people, your gods? How can you throw away your glory, your honor, your destiny?”

Achilles looked at his father and said:

“Father, I don’t forsake anything. I love my country, my people, my gods. But I love Patroclus more. He is my glory, my honor, my destiny. He is the only one who makes me happy. He is the only one who understands me. He is the only one who accepts me for who I am.”

Peleus shook his head and said:

“My son, you are deluded. You are blinded by a passion that is unnatural and sinful. You are wasting your life on a folly that will bring you nothing but sorrow and shame. You are spitting on the gifts that the gods have given you. You are defying their will and their laws.”

Achilles clenched his fists and said:

“Father, you are wrong. You are blinded by a prejudice that is cruel and ignorant. You are denying me the right to live my life as I choose. You are rejecting the love that Patroclus and I have for each other. You are insulting the gods who made us this way and who bless our union.”

Peleus raised his voice and said:

“My son, you are insolent. You are speaking to me with disrespect and defiance. You are forgetting your place as a son and a subject. You are challenging my authority as a father and a king.”

Achilles raised his voice and said:

“Father, you are unjust. You are speaking to me with contempt and intolerance. You are forgetting your duty as a father and a protector. You are abusing your power as a king and a tyrant.”

Peleus was furious. He slapped Achilles across the face and said:

“How dare you! How dare you talk to me like that! How dare you disobey me! How dare you disgrace me! Get out of my sight! Get out of my house! Get out of my kingdom! And take that abomination with you!”

Achilles was hurt. He felt the sting of his father’s hand and words. He felt the pain of his father’s rejection and hatred. He felt the loss of his father’s love and respect.

He looked at Patroclus, who was pale and trembling. He saw the fear and sadness in his eyes. He saw the love and loyalty in his heart.

He took Patroclus’ hand and said:

“Come, my love. Let’s go away from here.”

Patroclus nodded and said:

“Yes, my love. Let’s go away from here.”

They turned their backs on Peleus and walked away from his house, his land, his rule.

They didn’t know where they would go, but they knew they would go together.