The person looking back from the mirror was not her. Illithia watched her enthusiastic. How did she manage to tame her hair that way! Long silky black curls gathered together in this most complex web of leather straps and golden rings; it had never been this combed. And that dress must've been made by someone who had secretly taken her measures! It was a perfect fit. It looked like a long black veil fitting perfectly to her body from the shoulders down to the ground, strapped to her waist with golden lace. Gold and black seemed a successful combination on her tanned skin. Illithia put some dark powder on her eyelids and a rosy pinkish cream to her cheeks and lips. She was metamorphosed! Her father wouldn't have recognized her this way. I am kind of pretty, she thought to herself. But so unlike her everyday life. She looked at her hands and saw the blisters hardening on her palms. So much for beauty! Illithia made her snap out of it.

"We should hurry, you are expected!"

More corridors and more stairs, all amazing to her view. They finally arrived in front of the dining room and when the doors opened she blocked. Pools of crystal blue were carved in the floor and the water was shinning with the fire flaming from the oil lamps. Soldiers stood at each corner and red flowers blossomed in the evening air. The white curtains were gently blown by the sea breeze as it stroked the terrace. In the middle, a long table filled up with goods and around it about 30 men, all dressed up and having a good time. She managed to see a woman or two somewhere in between. They seemed to be at ease with so many men around. Well, she didn't have a problem with that either. Her problem was the women. She heard how nosy and bitchy the court ladies could be and she didn't want to go there!

At the end of the table stood the King and he rose the moment she came in.

"Gentlemen, I am honored to have with us tonight the daughter of our beloved General Lorianis, courageous and loyal defender of Troy! I've heard so much of his daughter and his late wife, may the Gods care for her on the other side! And for once the rumors are true! Her beauty proves her as a true descendent of the Corvini!" The way the King looked at her made her blush. So much recognition of her beauty and of her ancestors, the Corvini, from her mother side. She smiled shyly. "Come! Seat with us and taste this wonderful food you've cooked for us!" Ok, that still made her want to laugh, but she refrained as she took a few steps closer.

"Right here, at my right, next to my son, Hector!" And that's when her heart skipped a beat. Let it be just a coincidence of name! She prayed for a second but the Gods rejected her plea. Her eyes slowly turned towards the man who rose from the King's side and it seemed to her he was moving way too slow. Hector stood tall as she remembered him, dressed in the same royal blue as his father, wearing the royal insignia around his neck. He was too good to be true. She must've gone pale because Illithia pushed her gently towards him. Hector smiled as she came closer. He stepped aside showing her a spot next to him. There were no chairs, just a long wooden bench, which inevitably got her so much closer to him when seated. He took her hand and helped her seat. As soon as he let go she folded her arms in her lap and tried to shrink if possible. Hector kept smiling trying to look like he didn't observe her useless attempts to have a far off position from him. From across the table, Paris, his younger brother noticed the scene with amusement. Priam, nonetheless, saw a promising outcome to the event and his smile was different. He stood up with a glass of wine in his hand.

"To the many Apollonians that are now waiting for us on the other side of the river Styx! For the many brothers who gave their lives for us to breathe another day! For those who have fallen and those who will follow in their footsteps! Taste this food before you and remember how hard it is to keep your people, your family and your country safe and learn how to be better men! Let the bitterness of this rough lentil soup be the reminder of what it takes to keep your sons and daughters secure and wealthy!" The cups were raised and the voices of everyone lingered in the air or long after the glasses were emptied.

"My King, I am sorry to disappoint you, but this food is less rough than I remember it! If I were to taste this soup back when we were praying to the Gods to spare us another breath, I would've done much better!" A general laughter filled out the walls. Then everyone tasted it and hummed in pleasure.

"I don't remember any meat in it! The cook wasn't that generous with us back in the day!" said another.

"I am sorry, I thought that due to the occasion a little something extra wouldn't upset you! Aalexia tried to apologies for the chicken.

"No worries My Lady! We all need it now that we're missing flash from the bones!"

"That's not flesh you're talking about! Maybe fat!"

"You aren't that skinny yourself! Never were, so watch it old man!"

And the humorous quarrel went on and on and until the King would put them all at ease reminding them that none was in the same shape as they were years ago.

"True, but look how life is surprising us! We should never take it for granted! One day Aalexia here is at her property, by the way how far away from Troy is it dear? And another here she stands with us, enjoying this fine lintel soup!..." the woman's voice put everyone to silence. The tone in her voice foresaw nothing good. Aalexia tensed sensing the irony in her words. Then a strong hand lay on her back warming its way up to her shoulder blades. She took a quick look at Hector. He seemed not to notice his caress on her.

"A fine dinner that she was so generous to prepare for us tonight, helping us bring homage to the glorious dead! And death is something you don't get to experience very often from the tailor's shop in the market… unless he is too expensive!" The laughter and Hector's hand on her tense muscles made her blush less than expected. She felt sorry when he retracted his palm and continued eating. She peaked again. He must think she's made of porcelain! Still, it felt nice to see him care.

The dinner lasted for another hour or so and she learnt how to relax and have a good time. The war stories were not much different than what she heard at home but she still loved the enthusiasm with which they were told, like they just happened yesterday. The King retired to his chambers, but not before thanking her one more time for her assistance with the event. Aalexia felt happy for the first time since she's been at the court.

"Aalexia… I believe you'll be our guest for the night!" Hector's voice torn that happiness apart. She sighed and felt warm all of a sudden. Such a stupid adolescent reaction of her!

"I guess I will. It's too late for me to ride back home… but I will leave tomorrow at first light"

"Do not worry for your house. I've sent… my father sent his best men." Aalexia smiled. She now knew it was him that planned this entire visit to the palace. He knew she wouldn't have left her people alone and come to Troy.

"Thank you. That was very thoughtful of you to have my property protected while I am away."

"I'm pretty sure they had just as much fun there as we had here tonight. They didn't miss anything with Adrastos there!"

"Of that I'm sure!" Aalexia smiled.

"Have you ever been to the palace before?"

"No, never this close. I've seen it from afar or from the market. It's impressive!" And Aalexia took another look around her.

"Come, I'll show you around" and he slowly guided her towards the entrance. She didn't have the chance to make up some childish excuse and get away from him. And then again how can your refuse the Prince of Troy, the Heir to the Throne?

She thought it was never going to end and then again he did not want to it end, they visited so much that it was probably very late in the night when they reached the highest point of the palace. A terrace facing the sea shore, high above the watch towers. The view was incredible even at this late hour in the night. The city below glimmered in the orange light of the lamps and few people roamed the streets. She could distinguish the guards in the towers and the city gates. The breeze was stronger here and Hector took his robe off and wrapped her in it. His strong perfume invaded her nostrils so fast and so powerfully she almost sank her face in the material to have more of it. But she refrained just in time. Hector was still holding tight to the material making sure the wind won't blow it off.

Aalexia tried not to look him in the face nor observe his hands right under her chin.

"Adrastoswas very unhappy with noble Aeneas. Why is that?" his question came completely unexpected and she didn't have an answer ready. So the truth came out instead.

"I am continuously hunted by his constant infatuation and greed!" She tried to excuse herself by saying it in a whispered voice, but Hector smiled nonetheless.

"I see. He wants to marry you"

"You could say so…"

"He seems like a good catch. He is one of the richest men in the land and his armies are strong in fight."

"Riches are of no interest to me and … I've heard the rumors…"

"Rumors?"

"That he is violent not only in his affairs but also with his servants and the people around him"

"Few are not!"

"Do you batter your soldiers for not winning wars and your servants for spilling the wine?" Aalexia faced him but rapidly went back to watching her feet.

"No. But you can't depend on rumors."

"I don't. He's been at the property in several occasions and it is what he inspires to me that makes me not want him. He is just not what I'm looking for!"

"And what are you looking for?" He got so close that she couldn't escape his eyes any longer.

"Nothing." But it looked like she wanted to add something more. Hector didn't push her. "I'd rather suffer awaiting for a man to return from battle, not knowing whether he is alive or not than suffer watching my children and the people around me be handled brutally for spoils and ego!" her voice sounded so bitter it gave Hector a shiver down the spine. She talked as she had already experienced it even though from his researches she had never been married nor was known to have been with a man. Aalexia stared blankly in his eyes lost in her own thoughts to be able to grasp his approach. He stroked her cheek with the back of his palm slowly moving down to her chin. That's when her eyes came back to life and saw how close he was. Her lips parted but nothing came out and when he raised her face to his she only rejected it in her mind.

Hector took a second to scrutinize her face for a sign of resistance but there was none. Yet she looked like every moment she might flee. He slowly grabbed her by the wrist with his left hand making sure she stays, then bent down to kiss her lips. And when he did, she felt the eyes burn and her lips too dry to respond so she did nothing. She could barely picture the scene where the Prince of Troy, the same one who was battling the sand to feed the horses, the very same who because of her had fallen into horse manure, was now kissing her like they've known each other for much longer than 3 days. Her self preservation instincts kicked in and her body coiled under the pressure of the kiss, even though he had hardly touched her mouth. She could barely breathe and she wasn't sure if her legs were giving up on her because of fear or desire.

But Hector saw it coming and releasing her wrist, encircled her waist and pressed her against him deepening the kiss. She moaned when she felt no room in between their lips, his short beard caressing her upper lip and chin. His breath was so warm and soft, contrasting with the power and tension she felt from his body molding on hers. That dress was useless, so transparent! Her wool dress at home wouldn't have betrayed her this way!

Hector let go for a second just to adjust his position and fell back to her lips this time adding more pressure. Aalexia closed her eyes and held tight to his shirt. His robe fell of her shoulders and he didn't keep it from falling. Now her naked back was exposed to his touch and when she felt it she arched back at him. Hector's senses kicked in at full speed, his mouth opened on hers and what he wanted to be an innocent kiss became a search for her inner corners.

With both arms he gathered her against his chest, lowering her head backwards when his tongue infiltrated sinuously through the lips reaching her insides. And then again he tasted her lips, slowly, gently; with such torture it made her want to help him finish it faster. She pressed her mouth to his to stop him from playing. That only arose him more and he went back to searching the sweet corners of her mouth. His scent was all over her, his hands were holding her prisoner to his chest and she felt it was minutes since she last breathed! Hector swallowed drily and let go of her lips for a minute, burying his face in her hair. He felt his heart striking into the rib cage like mad and he tried to remember when was the last time a woman had done that to him from a kiss alone. Then he felt pushed aside. He smiled trying to make her look him in the eye. And when he succeeded she was blushing all over.

"My Lord!" The voice behind them killed the smile on his face. He closed his eyes for a second trying not to loose it. Then turned around.

"Yes."

"The King has asked for you"

"This late?" Hector became serious.

"The Western shores are under attack, you're due to leave tomorrow at sun rise for Alicinia." Hector quickly evaluated the situation in his mind.

"I'll see my father in a minute" then he turned towards Aalexia.

"Must you go?" her voice was feeble.

"Always" he reached for her but she backed off.

"I should leave you… I've taken too much of your time anyways…" then she skipped and ran down the stairs.

"Aalexia!" Damn it! She tried to catch her but he knew he didn't have the time. He watched her shadow disappear down the stairs. Now more than ever he wanted to kiss her again and his groin was pulsating with that wish. He felt frustrated but smiled to the thought. He went back in another tunnel and to his father's chambers. It looked like the new day was bringing him more than a hand full of social and legal problems to take care.