Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters . The idea I got from the livejournal community 31 days!
Author's Note: Hey guys! This story will mainly be a few different chapters based on Hector/Andromache romance. I'm doing it to the 31 days community on Livejournal (community./31days/profile), check it out its pretty awesome! I promise I finished this yesterday, so enjoy! This story won't have a plot but instead it'll just be a bunch of vignettes. Some stuff may be historically accurate, but I'm claiming creative license :D. It gets better later on, this is actually my least favorite chapter :D lol R&R if you like it .
...lemon flavored kisses...
It was a warm spring day and all of Troy was bustling to get ready for market, and the upcoming festival. In the palace maids were rushing to and fro in the women's quarters, hurrying back and forth into each other, and into various rooms. Guards stood at the doors, amused expressions on their faces because of how humorous they found the chatter in the maiden's quarters that they overheard. The main players today were Prince Hector's bride-to-be, and his cousin Briseis. Rushing about the halls Briseis and Andromache were hurrying to prepare themselves for the festival of Persephone.
"Andromache? Andromache! Where are you?" a shrill voice screamed accompanied by rapid footsteps.
"I'm coming! I'm coming just wait a second!" a second lower voice replied hurriedly putting pins in her hair as she hurried down the maid filled hallways.
"Andromache!" Briseis cried finally managing to run into her friend. "I need your advice! Which set of jewelry should I wear? Gold or silver!"
Andromache eyed her friend, who was currently holding up two different sets of jewelry on either side of her face. Impatience sparkled in her eyes, as well as a flush of nervousness. "The silver!"
"Are you sure?" Briseis looked at the pair with critical eyes, a small pout on her face.
"Yes, my friend, it goes well with your dress." Smiling she ushered her into her friend's room. "Not to mention, it will match my dress as well!"
"But I'm not supposed to match you! Hector is!" Briseis cried, until she noticed the laughter in her friend's eyes. Laughing they both settled down more quietly into finishing their preparations, lost in their own thoughts.
Finally when the sun was just starting to go down a maid knocked softly on the door. Turning Briseis smiled, "Come in!"
"Prince Hector sent me, he told me to tell you that he will be waiting in the gardens."
"Thank you. Tell him we shall be right there." Once the maid left they both rose, and suddenly Andromache felt her mouth start to grow dry, and her stomach started to turn. Turning almost frantically to Briseis she asked, "Briseis, do I look alright? Are you absolutely sure that Hector will think that I look beautiful?"
Briseis smiled, softening she adjusted her friend's Theban crown, "You look magnificent, and I will promise you that if Hector does not say something about your awe inspiring beauty, he is not a true man and you have my permission to break off the engagement."
"But Briseis! What if he does not like me?" she asked panic rising in her throat.
"It matters not! I like you, and that is all that matters!" Briseis replied impishly
Laughing she nodded as they made their way towards the gardens, talking and laughing without seeing the smiling, indulgent glances of the older maids; and the admiring glances of the guards.
Hector paced about the garden, hands behind is back as he fiddled with his festival robes. Cursing silently for allowing Paris to pick out his robes, he felt like a trussed up girl. Remembering the cheeky grin that Paris had given him before running off to finish his own preparations, he shook his head, longing to be back in his armor. Sighing softly he was waiting anxiously for Paris to arrive, as his younger brother had promised to give him his moral support when he first met his elusive betrothed. He had seen her around the palace, but he had only ever managed to catch glimpses of her veil and robes. She had been very successful at avoiding him, and all the interaction that he had of her was hearing her laughter from a distance, intermingled with Briseis' voice, and glimpses of purple fabric, the color of Thebes. In fact, the only reason why she had agreed to meet him tonight was because it was traditional that the bride and groom would meet at the Festival of Persephone before the wedding, he also had heard rumors that both Paris and Briseis had bet her that she could not keep out of his sight for the entire time she was in Troy. What probably chagrined him as well was the fact that he had a feeling that his father was in on the joke as well.
Still he was incredibly curious to see what his future wife would be like. He would never admit how nervous he actually was, but those around him saw it. He had a great fear that she would be one of the fainting types, and those women he found incredibly hard to deal with. He normally fled the site if he saw one of those types of women in the room. He also felt the tiniest bit annoyance that his bride to be was so close with his younger brother, his reputation was famous for being a charmer of women, and he didn't think he could live it down if his own little brother somehow managed to steal the heart of his betrothed. Frustrated at the thought, he did not hear the soft footsteps coming up behind him.
Lost in thought, when he felt the hand on his shoulder he forgot himself and found his instincts taking him. Grabbing the hand he wrenched it off his shoulder and under, shoving his assailant none to gently up against a nearby tree. With his hand at the person's throat he finally felt himself coming back to his senses. As his instincts slowly wore away he found himself horrified by what he saw. The person struggling with the hand at their throat was a woman, who was currently looking confused, terrified, and even a little angry with him. In a wild thought he looked at her and found that he had never seen her before in his life, and he found her face an odd mix of beauty. No, she was not beautiful, her eyes were too big, her cheekbones too defined, and her mouth to wide; but somehow that was what made her beautiful. He felt as if ages had passed, and he slowly looked up and found a thin silver crown resting on top of the veil covering her hair. Realization dawned on him, but too late he heard footsteps coming.
A familiar voice called out from not to far away, "So Hector, how do you like the fair Princess Andromache?"
A girlish voice joined laughing, "And you too Andromache! What do you think of our own Prince Hector?"
In a flash they had entered the clearing before he could release her, and Paris and Briseis both stopped in mid-step. Quickly assessing the situation, a look of horror dawned on Briseis' face, and crying out she ran to help her friend, "Hector! What are you doing! Andromache? Let go of her!"
The look of amused shock that adorned Paris' face as he strolled leisurely over, told Hector that his younger brother would not soon let him forget this particular incident. By this time he had released his betrothed, and he could hear Briseis muttering darkly under her breath. Looking at the princess he found himself confronted by dark eyes that he found unreadable and full of life. Hector felt himself lost for words as he had no idea what this girl was thinking. Idly he thought that she looked splendid, and admired her spirit. The dress she wore was a blue to match his own, and her hair was hidden by the veil that she wore, though he saw the love curls framing her face were a rich brown. Standing before him with her pale skin glowing in the moonlight, he felt that she looked like Artemis herself, wild and untamable.
"So this is how you woo women Hector." Paris smiled, trying hard not to laugh about the whole situation, amused at the events that had transpired. Briseis was looking daggers at him, and he noticed a bright red mark growing on his betrothed's wrist, matched by a fainter mark on her neck. He found himself feeling extremely guilty, and he averted his gaze. Clearing his throat he opened his mouth to apologize, but found himself interrupted all of a sudden by a low, sweet voice. "Do not trouble yourself Prince of Troy, I have merely learned that I should never approach you when your back is turned. With my own brothers they had a tendency to become violent when startled, albeit not with me per say, but I have seen it happen."
Glancing at her he found her eyes twinkling at him, and found her smiling at him. Paris grinned at her, and Briseis seemed to visibly relax at this turn of events. Running a hand through his hair he found himself smiling sheepishly back, though he did not see Paris visibly scowl at the fact that Hector had ruined the perfect coif that had taken so long to achieve. Unsure of what to do next, he did what came to mind. Bowing he offered his hand to her, "My name is Hector, Prince of Troy."
"And my name is Andromache, Princess of Thebes." She smiled taking his hand and curtseying, her eyes merry with fun. "Now tell me, is this how you normally meet new people? Or is my dress so repulsive that you reacted so violently?"
"You look wonderful in your gown. Unfortunately that is how I greet women these days, not so much anymore. Ever since I became betrothed, I suddenly lost the title of most eligible bachelor, which role Paris has been more then willing to fill." He replied, and was rewarded by her sweet laughter. With her head thrown back and happiness on her face, she was radiant, and Hector found himself relieved. He liked that she was spirited, and he found himself feeling at home with her immediately. Her infectious mood was contagious, and soon it had traveled to the others.
At the festival, Hector found himself dragged along as the two girls ran about fascinated by all the booths that lined the streets. Paris had somehow escaped as soon as he realized what escorting Briseis and Andromache would entail; Hector made a mental note to punish his brother for abandoning him later He found it surprisingly fun though, especially watching Andromache. She looked so young as she looked wide-eyed about her, giggling with Briseis. He found himself smiling with them, and watching his betrothed closely to try and figure her out.
"Hector?" Andromache called, a mischievous look in her eyes. Smiling at her from across the market place he walked over and asked, "Yes?"
"Have you ever eaten a lemon before?" She asked innocently, a harmless looking fruit held in her hand.
"No, what are those?" He curiously inspected the strange fruit, admiring the vibrant yellow of the fruit. Unfortunately he just happened to miss the look in Andromache's eyes, or he would not have done what he did next. Asking the merchant to cut the lemon in half she handed him one half. "Try it!"
He eyed the fruit and looked at her questioningly. When she did nothing but look at him innocently, he shrugged and proceeded to eat the lemon, in one rather large bite. Then his mouth felt the strangest he had ever felt. Cringing he knew that his face was making some grotesque face, and yet he did not care. "By the Gods Andromache! What have you given to me?"
Struggling with the sour taste, he took the glass of wine that Andromache handed to him and gulped it down. It was several moments before he was able to regain his composure, but gain it he did. Before he could say anything though, Andromache laughed and dragged him down further into the market. "Don't sulk my Prince! I was introduced to the lemon in much the same way, unfortunately I was required to eat the whole thing because I was trying to prove my honor to my brothers."
Shaking his head he just followed her silently, as she weaved about. He felt like a fool, and a little hurt that she would do that to him. Noticing the mood change Andromache heroically tried to change the subject, feeling just the tiniest bit guilty about what she had done.
"Persephone has always been one of my favorite goddesses." She said walking companionably by him, swinging her arms a little as she walked. He peered around looking for Briseis, when she noticed she quickly told him that Briseis had claimed weariness and had returned to the Palace already with a guard acting as an escort. Muttering to himself about betrayal of his two blood relatives, he had several dark futures planned out for them. He had never spent much time alone with a girl before, and never one so life changing as his betrothed so he was not ashamed to admit that he was terrified. They were nearing the flower shops now, and he could smell the heavy scents of the flowers on the air. Turning to her he made and effort to break the silence that had settled in between them, "Why is Persephone your favorite goddess?"
"My mother died when I was young." She replied browsing through the different flowers that were displayed at the stands. "She loved gardening though, I think my mother had quite a showdown with the actual gardeners because they would not let her near the gardens. In the end my father had to step in, and gave her her own private garden area. I grew up there with her, from the time I could walk I always helped her there. We were best friends, probably because I was her only daughter. After she died I would continue working there until father let me have the key to the garden. Flowers are Persephone, and they remind me of my mother."
Hector watched her carefully, and saw no trace of tears in her eyes. She was beautiful there, shining in the moonlight and surrounded by flowers. "Do you wish that you had a garden here?"
"Sometimes, but it is much harder to raise flowers in this climate. The gardens here are beautiful, though." She was holding a single purple orchid in her hands, accompanied with delicate white lilies. Impulsively he reached out and bought them, handing them to her he delighted in seeing her blush. Cradling them in her arms they walked on in a comfortable silence, both lost in thought.
They reached the palace together in silence, and they did not talk much. Upon reaching the woman's chambers he stopped, and looked at her carefully. Debating on what to say as she stood their fidgeting, he was just about to forfeit and leave when she started to talk, her voice full of worry and concern. "Do I pass the test? Am I worthy enough for you?"
He looked at her strangely, and sighed. "We are still finding out Princess. Do you not begrudge me from stealing you away from your family?"
Shaking her head she just looked at him sadly, "It is the duty of a princess, what little use I am to my kingdom I am happy to do it."
A small moment of silence passed and she said shyly, with a faint blush on her cheeks, "From what I've seen, I think that I could fall in love with you."
"Thank you Princess. I think that I could eventually…"
His heart skipped a beat, and he turned to leave then he turned around and kissed her, "Good night Andromache."
Silence reigned as he left, and he was just about to turn the corner when he heard her calling after him, "Hector your kiss tasted like lemons! It was sour!"
Laughing he glanced at her, still standing in the same spot. "I suppose its what you get princess."
"Good night Hector!" she called after him, and he heard her softly enter and close the door to the women's chambers. Smiling he went to his own room, feeling a sense of happiness and youthfulness that he had not felt in a long time with the taste of lemons lingering in his mouth, and the heavy perfume of flowers still dancing around him.