Absolutely, you’re describing a really poignant and heartbreaking dynamic. The woman you’re thinking of is Briseis.

In The Song of Achilles, Briseis is indeed loved and cherished by both Achilles and Patroclus. Even though Achilles and Patroclus are in love with each other, they also form a genuine bond with her. She becomes part of this little circle of affection and respect, and there’s a sense that they all care for each other deeply.

But as you pointed out, the tragedy is that despite this love, Briseis is still treated like property in the larger scheme of the world they live in. Ultimately, Achilles’ son Pyrrhus treats her as just another piece of loot or a pawn to be sacrificed. And yes, she ends up being killed by him, which is a really brutal and tragic end for a character we grow to care about.

It’s definitely one of those moments that highlights how women in that mythological context could be both loved and yet still utterly powerless in the face of male authority. It’s a very bittersweet and sobering part of the story.