Learning to Love

Author's notes: This is my first fanfiction since "Till Death Do Us Part", and to be honest it feels quite exciting, but strange to be working on something else.

"Learning to Love" is not the best title, but it does sum up what this story will be about. It will be a short story of how Hector and Andromache fall in love.

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The crisp morning air rushed through Andromache's hair as she stood alone on the balcony outside her chamber. She inhaled deeply and allowed her eyes to wander across the view before her, the view of her beautiful city.

In the distance the sun had begun to rise from behind the great mountains, and already Andromache could hear the bustle of the market begin. She sighed deeply and turned away from her city, her home.

She looked down onto the floor and smiled slightly when she saw the name 'Andromache' faintly carved into the marble. She had done it years ago, just when she had begun to show her artistic side. Her mother and father, however, were not as impressed with Andromache's artwork and she now laughed quietly as she remembered the look of horror on her mother's face.

The sweet, innocent laughter that had suddenly escaped Andromache's mouth just as quickly vanished, and she slowly stepped into her chamber and sat down on the edge of her bed.

So many memories were stored within the palace and city. There were so many memories that she cherished and that she would be leaving behind. No longer would she be able to walk through the palace and laugh to herself when she remembered how her brother Podes had tried to sneak out of the palace one night, but instead woke the entire household when he accidentally crashed into a small table and knocked over his mother's favourite urn. Or how her eldest brother Timon had been caught trying to sneak a puppy into his chamber, much to the disapproval of their parents.

Sickness unexpectedly rushed into Andromache's stomach and she felt vomit rush up her throat, but she quickly swallowed it down which left a burning sensation in her mouth. She rose to her feet and drank a goblet of water which rested beside her bed.

Andromache had just placed the goblet beside her bed when she heard the call of her name from the hall outside her chamber. She felt her heartbeat quicken at the sound of her name because she knew the time had come.

For years she had dreaded this day, the day when the reality of leaving her home and family would finally sink in. She had known ever since she was a young girl that the time would come when she would have to leave everything she knew behind her, but until now she had pushed the thought away. Today, however, she was forced to face the reality of what would happen.

The door to Andromache's chamber slowly opened, and a young girl dressed in a plain peplos entered. She bowed before Andromache then promptly closed the door.

"Princess Andromache," said the girl, "your mother and father request that you come to the main hall immediately. The guests from Troy will be arriving any moment."

Andromache turned her head to look out of her balcony and felt a shiver race down her spine when she heard the word 'Troy'. She had thought of that distant land so often, even in her dreams. She imagined brilliant gold walls surrounding the sparkling city, but when she thought of the palace all she could see was darkness, complete darkness that she would soon be locked within.

Horns were then heard echoing throughout Thebe and Andromache closed her eyes for a slight moment. She breathed in deeply once more and tried to take control of her nerves, but when she heard the horns sound once more, she felt as if she were going to faint.

"Princess Andromache?" said the girl anxiously when she saw the color rapidly fade from the Princess' face.

"I'm coming," said Andromache, her voice stuttering slightly. She then rose to her feet and left the chamber silently, the girl following behind her.

As Andromache walked through the halls of the Theben palace, she felt her whole body begin to shake. She had never felt so nervous, let alone showed it so openly, and the thought of what she would see in a few moments terrified her.

She suddenly halted and rested her arms on the nearest table and began to breathe in and out deeply. Her breathing began to quicken and each heartbeat felt like a hammer against her ribs.

"Are you well, Princess Andromache?" asked the girl, a concerned tone to her voice. She gently rested her hand on Andromache's back, just like a mother would when a child was sick.

Andromache shrugged the girl's hand away and straightened up. She looked at the girl for a moment and then quickly turned away. She felt ashamed with herself, ashamed that she had shown her fear to a girl almost four years younger than her.

"I am fine," said Andromache, sharply, but then she turned to the girl once more and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, Sophia. I do not mean to be horrible to you…-,"

"You are just scared, Princess Andromache," said the girl.

Andromache nodded slightly, and felt as if a flood of tears were about to escape from her eyes. She lowered her head, shocked at how terrified she was. She had never cried in front of anyone, not even her mother. She would always run away and cry in secret because she was so proud, and yet now she was on the verge of collapsing onto the floor and crying herself to death.

"You will be fine," said Sophia softly, and she raised Andromache's head slightly. "Girls before you have been forced to leave their homes, including your mother, and including me. With time it will get easier, and soon you will come to love your new home as much as you love Thebe."

"I'm sorry, Sophia," said Andromache, and she inwardly scolded herself. She knew that Sophia had been forced to come to Thebe when she was only eight years old so she could work in the palace to support the rest of her family.

The horns outside the palace began to echo throughout the city again, and it tore Andromache and Sophia away from their thoughts.

"Wherever you go, Princess Andromache, you will be loved," said Sophia and she smiled, "and you will never be forgotten in Thebe."

"Thank you," said Andromache and she smiled sadly. She then breathed in and straightened her back and proceeded to walk towards the main hall of the palace, Sophia once again following behind her.

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A/N: If you have a moment please review to let me know what you thought, and if you can't or don't want to review I hope you liked this and will continue to read. Thank you!