Chapter 28
"Ready to Start"
In the three days since the group had returned to Troy, Lila hadn't left her quarters. Though she was undeniably ecstatic that she and Hector would finally be granted a life together, her heart and thoughts were weighed down by the grief of losing her family, friends, and home in one split second. When she first arrived at Troy over a year ago, she hadn't even been this sad, but she suspected it was because Apollo had promised her a chance of returning home. She had always had that small sliver of hope in the back of her mind to cling onto when she missed her home, but now there was absolutely no turning back. A particular train of thought that had been ruling her mind was how would her family and friends find out? She was nearly being driven mad as she imagined Warren thinking she had simply disappeared. Now more than ever she regretted not telling him the truth. She didn't want him or anyone else who had loved her to cling to her memory in the hopes that she would show up unharmed one day. She wished desperately she could write them a note, drop them a line, or do anything to let them know she was safe and happy, but that she would not ever be home again. They deserved that, but Lila had no power to grant them that peace of mind. Consequently, she barely even stirred from her bed or ate. Hector stayed with her and nearly force fed her the first day, but once he reminded her of their unborn children, she tried harder to find some semblance of an appetite and nourish her body. She felt guilty as well because she could see how her drear mood was affecting Hector. He no doubt felt some responsibility, and because of her, he had not allowed himself to even celebrate his return to his beloved city. Lila had tried to pretend to be happy, but he easily saw through her veil and convinced her that she needed to mourn. It was better to admit her feelings, wallow in them, and then move on rather than allowing them to slowly eat her from the inside out over time. He often managed to be wiser than her, and so Lila allowed him to guide her through the darkness of her depression and help her find the light at the end of the tunnel.
On the fourth day, Lila managed to convince Hector to get out of their room. He said he wouldn't leave without her, but she promised him that tomorrow she would get up as well. With that, Hector left to attend to matters of state or perhaps to simply enjoy the beautiful day outside, and Lila stared absentmindedly out one of the windows at the arid lands that were now her home. She closed her eyes and thought of Arizona, but already she was disappointed in how she couldn't visualize every single minute detail of her home. It was a foreshadowing of how her memory would fade with time, and she feared forgetting more than anything. While her memories had initially brought her comfort, now they worried her because they were so flimsy and would no doubt fade more and more with every passing day. In some sense, they were the cross she bore to constantly remind her to grieve and miss her family. Allowing herself happiness too soon felt like a betrayal to them, and perhaps that was one of the reasons that she had stayed within the confines of her room: it was a prison to make sure that she mourned enough.
"Lady Lila?" The timid voice came from the doorway behind her, and Lila turned to see who was calling her attention away from her self-inflicted punishment. Althea stood at the entrance of the room with her eyes on the floor. She glanced up momentarily to see that Lila had acknowledged her presence before swiftly returning her gaze to her feet. It made Lila smile slightly because no matter how hard she had tried, Althea still retained some servant behaviors. Stubborn girl. "Do you require anything?"
"Come sit with me." Reluctantly, Althea approached the new princess and perched herself on the bed beside her. "Did anyone tell you?"
"I do not know what you're referring to," the young girl admitted earnestly.
Lila took Althea's hand and squeezed it softly. "We returned to my time the night of the wedding. We were there for about a month before we were allowed to come back to Troy."
"You are here permanently then?" Althea asked with a hint of hope and a small smile on her lips.
"Yes." Lila felt flattered by Althea's happiness, but she couldn't ignore the guilt in her stomach at getting pleasure out of anything. "Remember when we first met, and I told you that I don't need you to act like a servant with me?" Althea nodded hesitantly. "I still feel that way, and I don't want anyone else to treat you poorly… I don't really know how to even ask for this, but would you consider helping me all the time?"
"I would be honored to serve you," she assured Lila and bowed her head respectfully.
"Not serve," Lila corrected her. "I could be like a friend or an older sister to you. Others might call you my servant, but I want you at my side to help me because I care about you. Do you understand?"
Althea didn't seem to know how to respond, and she carefully lifted her gaze to meet Lila's. At the action which was quite a big leap for the girl, Lila smiled encouragingly. "I would like that," Althea confessed. "You are more kind to me than anyone else."
"Because you're my friend," Lila reminded her. "Now, doll, I'm going to be honest. I don't know the first thing about being a princess, but I guess I'll talk to Hector and make sure this is ok." She motioned between them to show she was referring to their recent agreement.
"Princess Andromache kept a handmaiden," Althea said after a moment.
"Handmaiden," Lila repeated and paused as she considered the title. "Works for me." They fell silent then since the topic had reached its end, and Lila noted that Althea seemed to be thinking very hard about something and almost appeared as though she wanted to bring it up into conversation. As always, her subservient side got the better of her, and she held her tongue. Lila, however, could use the distraction from her depressed thoughts and asked, "Something on your mind?"
Althea looked at her lap and fidgeted with the material of her dress as if she wouldn't speak a word, and then all at once she blurted out, "I think I'm in love."
Lila grinned at the unexpected admission and was immediately drawn into girl talk. "Get out!" Althea stood up swiftly, and Lila grabbed her arm. "No-no! It's just an expression from my time… It means 'Wow' like surprise and…" Lila couldn't think how adequately to describe it and forced Althea to sit once more. "Tell me everything! Who is he? How long have you two been seeing each other?"
"Adrastus. He is a soldier." She smiled as she paused and undoubtedly pictured said man with dreamy eyes. Then she admitted sadly, "He does not know I exist."
This confession gave Lila a new duty, and she swiftly promised, "I've dealt with men for years. I can help you win him over with no problems."
"I am a servant. I have no place with a soldier."
Lila rolled her eyes and countered, "I was a high school teacher, and now I'm married to a prince. Love doesn't care what your status is. Besides you're absolutely gorgeous, and with my help, I can promise he will never forget your face or name."
"You would do that for me?"
"Yes! Do you not get how this friend thing works?" Lila teased, and for the first time, she heard Althea laugh. Yes, she would make this happen. It would give her something to do and keep her mind off of her home. Evidently playing matchmaker was the kick in the pants Lila needed to get off her depressed butt and abandon her prison. "Do you know where my husband is?"
"Not exactly, but he often visits the palace stable in the afternoon," Althea offered, and Lila nodded.
"Right…. Which are where exactly?" To be completely honest, the year that Lila had spent in Troy had not been used to learn the city. She had been too busy adjusting to ancient life, getting kidnapped, falling in love, having ridiculous amounts of amazing sex, getting knocked up, being married, saving an ancient city from the brink of destruction, and worrying over when she would be separated from Hector. Her plate had been a little too full to learn where the stable of all things was. Althea seemed to understand and led Lila to the palace stable. As she had predicted, Hector was inside tending to one of his horses with his back to the entryway. Lila grinned mischievously and raised herself up onto the balls of her feet as she crept quietly into the stable. Hector turned to grab something, and she swiftly ducked behind a wooden stall so that he wouldn't see her. One hand covered her mouth to muffle her childish giggles, and then she noticed a young stable boy watching the new princess of Troy with confusion. She placed a finger over her lips, and the boy bowed his head to show he wouldn't betray her position. Lila realized then that she couldn't see if Hector had his back to her again, and she glanced at the boy with a furrowed brow in silent question. The boy tilted his head toward the prince to encourage her to continue forward, and she mouthed a 'thank you.' With that, she cautiously continued her advance toward the Trojan prince who had once more turned to his steed. Lila's heart beat excitedly, and she bit her bottom lip against the inevitable victorious giggles. She had never once been able to sneak up on Hector, but he seemed lost in his thoughts this particular afternoon. When he was finally within reach, she lifted herself even higher onto her toes and slipped her hands over his eyes. The prince jumped in surprise and pulled her hands away as he spun on his heel to face her.
"Boo!" she cried with a victorious grin.
Hector smiled in amusement and observed, "You're up."
"I can't mope around all day, and I am on a mission," she said with her eyes shining in excitement.
"Already?" he teased good-naturedly. "We've only just returned. Have the gods decided you need to save another city?"
"No, this is much more important."
Hector crossed his arms over his chest and put on a show of considering what it could possibly be. At length, he asked, "What could be more important than saving a city?"
"Love," she declared immediately. "I'm playing matchmaker."
He lifted his brow and wondered, "For whom?"
"Althea! She apparently really likes one of your soldiers." Lila grinned and absently adjusted his shirt as she commented, "What is it about you Trojan men in uniform? You're irresistible."
Hector chuckled and bent forward to kiss her forehead. "It is not the uniform, my love."
She grinned and finally considered the reddish brown horse behind him. "What are you doing?"
"Tending to Ethon," he said while turning back to the steed, and he patted the horse's neck affectionately. "He was injured during one of the battles, but he seems to have healed well."
"He's yours?" It was obvious, but she asked anyway out of curiosity.
"Yes, one of them."
"How many do you have?"
"Three for now."
"Three horses? Oh, that's completely practical," Lila teased with a small smile. She was certain if Hector had been raised in her time, he would be one of those men with multiple cars. In fact, if she were to guess, she'd say a motorcycle (considering how he had loved Liam's), an SUV, and some crazy fast car like a Lotus or Astin Martin. Her thoughts amused her though she didn't speak them aloud to Hector. She would have to explain what all the various cars were, and that would ruin the joke.
"They each serve a different purpose," he assured her.
"Morning, afternoon, and night?" she guessed sarcastically.
Hector grinned at her and explained, "No. Podarge for one," he pointed out a chocolate brown stallion, "is the swiftest horse in Troy."
The horse's coat shone even in the dim lighting, and Lila admitted, "He's beautiful." The horse made a sound that caused Lila to think he was annoyed that she had referred to him as beautiful. She laughed and corrected, "Sorry. I meant very gallant and handsome."
Hector chuckled at the exchange before slyly saying, "If I remember, you asked me to teach you to ride."
"I didn't say right now. I'm pregnant. What if I fall, or what if the babies get all jostled around in there?"
This seemed to amuse her husband even further, and he grinned down at her as if she were his private joke. "Jostled around?"
"I don't know," she said self-consciously now that he was pointing out how silly her thoughts in fact were.
"You would not be galloping about the Trojan countryside," he pointed out. "Many women in Troy ride while pregnant." He lowered his voice and glanced at the stable boy to make sure he wasn't listening. "We don't have cars, my love."
"I know that," she hissed with a slight pout. She had always sort of assumed women rode around while pregnant back in ancient times, but that didn't mean she still wasn't wary. Did Pocahontas gallop around bareback with her bump? "But it's my first time, and we both know that I'm the clumsiest person in the world. I walk into doors and trip all the time."
Hector nodded. "This is true. It's a small wonder not all of your toes are broken considering how many times you stub them."
"Exactly."
The prince had pointed out to her before how ironic it was that she was a klutz when her middle name was Grace. 'Wow you are so clever. No one else has ever told me that,' she had replied sarcastically. He smiled at the memory and pointed out, "You've never ridden before. You could be better than you think."
"I don't know, Hector," she said and admittedly felt like he was pressuring her somewhat. She did really want to learn, but she was a little scared. He didn't say anything further, and she huffed out a half-hearted, "Fine." Hector grinned and nodded his approval. "Who's the lucky horse?"
"Podarge seemed to like you," the prince said merely to mess with her.
"You're not going to make me ride him?" she asked with her eyes widening at the notion. She wouldn't do it.
"No," he answered and chuckled softly since he had successfully tricked her. "We'll start with Galathe. He's my eldest horse and the gentlest."
"Ok. Old horse. I like that. I can handle that I think." Her eyes swept across the stable searching for some decrepit, old horse that couldn't possibly go faster than a meager stroll. There was none to be seen. "Which is he?"
"The white one," Hector answered and pointed to a huge white horse.
Lila looked at her husband like he was crazy. Galathe didn't look old at all to her, but then again she was fairly ignorant when it came to horses. It wasn't exactly like they grew a beard to show their age. "Oh my goodness he's tall... Don't you have a pony or something I can warm up with?"
Hector laughed heartily at the idea and said, "I can't have my wife and the future queen of Troy riding about on a pony."
Lila rolled her eyes as she realized he was teasing her and placed her hands on her hips. "What if I fall? I'm pregnant. I can't fall. I'll miscarry."
"I won't let you fall," he assured her gently. "I broke Galathe myself years ago. He won't throw you, but I'll ride with you this first time if you'd like."
"Yes," she answered without hesitation, and he smiled at her wariness. He had been riding horses for so long that it was second nature, and taming horses had been a skill he had acquired early on in life. There was something incredibly rewarding about garnering the horse's trust and molding it into the perfect steed. "Can I pet him?" she wondered with an embarrassed smile because she felt childish for asking.
Luckily, Hector happened to find it cute and encouraged her, "Go ahead."
"Does he bite?"
"No." Gently, she reached out and stroked his large neck. It had been so long since she had been that close to a horse, and she swiftly realized how powerful the animal was before her. Thus, her movements were slow and gentle so that she wouldn't accidentally startle him. As she acquainted herself with the horse, Hector stepped away to gather what they would need to ride.
Once he had all the necessarily materials, Hector prepared Galathe for their lesson with Lila watching closely, and he talked her through everything he was doing though honestly most of it was going in one ear and out the other. It wasn't because she didn't find it interesting. It was mainly because she was staring at Galathe and attempting to have some sort of telepathic conversation with him. 'Hello Galathe,' she began as she stared intently at him. Then she remembered someone had told her not to stare at horses or was that dogs? To be safe she looked slightly off to the side. 'I'm Lila. You're very pretty… I mean handsome. Crap. Sorry. You're rugged and handsome... I'm going to cut to the chase. I'm pregnant, and I will slip you some sort of food like an apple later maybe –you like apples right? But only if you please don't knock me off. Please.' As a second thought, she added, 'I don't believe in hurting animals, but if you knock me off and cause me to miscarry, I don't claim responsibility for what happens to you.'
"Are you listening?" Hector spoke up suddenly when she didn't answer one of his questions.
"What? Oh yea. Sorry. I was… I wasn't listening," she admitted with an apologetic smile and clasped her hands nervously before her. She had initially been excited at the idea of Hector teaching her how to ride, but now that she was actually faced with the huge horse, she was getting cold feet. Obviously her main concern was making sure her unborn children were safe, but she should have known better. Hector wouldn't endanger her or their children, and he wouldn't have offered Galathe unless he knew and trusted the horse. Still, Lila was a wee bit afraid.
"It's ok," he decided when he saw her nerves and guided the horse out of the stable with Lila at his side. Once they reached a small circular area where they could work, he said, "I'll help you up first."
'Here goes nothing,' she thought sarcastically as her husband hoisted her up, and she straddled the horse. Her long dress wasn't exactly appropriate riding wear, but she didn't mind too much if it rode up a little. Once he was certain she was settled, he mounted the horse behind her and adjusted their seating until they both were comfortable.
"See? Nothing to worry yourself about," Hector said when he noticed she wasn't as stiff as he had expected.
"It's easy not to worry when you're behind me," she said with a laugh and glanced over her shoulder at him. "It'll be an entirely different story if-when I do this on my own one day."
"You'll be fine," he said with a reassuring smile. "Now he's trained to be sensitive to pressure," Hector began and gave her an easy lesson on how to guide the horse by applying various pressures to go, stop, and turn. Lila's legs weren't quite as strong as Hector's, and though she expected riding bareback to be a workout, she didn't necessarily understand how hard even some of the simple things could be. Sometimes she suspected Hector helped a little to keep her from getting too frustrated, but she didn't ask him about it. Admittedly, she liked to think she was guiding the horse all by herself, and Hector was kind enough to allow her her pride.
"You know in my time we have saddles, and it makes this so much easier," Lila said as Galathe walked about the circle. It was probably a lesson an eight-year-old Trojan child could master, but she assumed Hector didn't want to rush her too soon when she had clearly been so apprehensive.
"What is a saddle?" he asked of course.
Lila had never realized until she married a Trojan prince how difficult it was to describe even the simplest modern things in terms that were easy to understand and follow. Human dictionary, anyone? "It goes around the horse's middle and hooks under his belly. I'm not totally sure what it's made out of in the middle, but it's normally leather on the exterior. The part where the rider sits has a defined seat, and it helps align your back and puts less strain on the horse and the rider. And it has stirrups that hang off the edge of the saddle, and you slip your feet in them so it's really easy to mount the horse and all."
Hector visualized to the best of his abilities what a saddle would look like and decided at length, "Interesting."
"It's nice… This is already hurting my butt," she confessed with a grin.
He smiled and kissed the back of her head. "I've ridden for days on end before. It takes some adjusting."
Lila grimaced at the idea of how her butt would feel if she rode for days. "No thank you. I happen to like my butt, and I have no desire to put it through that kind of torture. As it stands, I'm so out of shape I may be walking funny if we do anything more intense than this." She grinned and added, "But you might like that."
"Why would I like that?" he asked curiously. It was such an odd thing to assume.
Lila laughed and turned so she could see her husband's face as she whispered, "Everyone will think I'm walking funny because you have a huge penis." Lila even lifted her hands and marked off a foot of space into the air. Immediately, Hector burst out laughing so hard that he nearly fell off the horse and took Lila with him. In fact, she had never heard him laugh so much, and she felt pleased that she had caused that. Who knew even Trojan princes could appreciate dirty humor? Finally, Hector quieted down and sighed though he was still wearing his trademark wolfish grin. Now that it was out in the open, Lila felt compelled to add, "They wouldn't be wrong either."
He chuckled and asked, "Do you really intend to discuss this right now?"
She shrugged and answered, "I just thought I'd give you a little ego boost, honey. I haven't exactly been myself these last few days, so I just wanted to remind you that you and all your assets are amazing."
Hector shook his head in amusement and lowered his head to kiss the crook where her neck met her shoulder. "You and all your assets are amazing as well."
"I hope you'll still feel that way in seven months," she said earnestly and tried not to think about how giving birth to twins without medication would affect her poor body.
"You will always be beautiful to me," he promised without hesitation.
"Speaking of," she murmured and placed a hand over her small bump. "Shouldn't we take a lunch break?"
He glanced up at the sky where the sun was at its highest point and decided, "I think it is that time." With that, Hector dismounted and helped Lila off before they headed back to the stable and then the palace. They ended up sharing lunch in one of the palace gardens. Actually, Lila recognized it as the one that she had found on her own so long ago.
"Do you remember when we sat and talked here the first night I was in Troy?" she wondered. Hector had led the way, so she was curious if this had been a coincidence or on purpose.
The prince glanced about them and realized, "Yes."
"It feels like forever ago, doesn't it?"
Once more, he admitted, "Yes, but so much happened in such a short period of time."
"I know. On like only my second or third day, I was kidnapped and toted off to the Greeks. I swear it's a wonder I even survived my first month here. I got more bruised and battered physically and mentally than I have in my entire life."
"You survived because you're strong."
"I survived," Lila corrected swiftly, "because I was lucky. If Achilles hadn't taken me, those men would have killed me or worse, and then Achilles brought me back to Troy which even if I had escaped, I doubt I would have been able to return on my own. Finally, I was lucky that Paris shot Achilles in time, and you killed him before he could kill me."
Remembering that dark day caused a pensive silence to fall between them, and after several minutes passed, Hector said, "Even now, I can't believe you would have died to save me."
Lila smiled and bent forward to peck him on the cheek. "I think I've always loved you since I first saw you. I would do anything for you. You know that."
"There you are," a familiar voice said from behind them before Hector could say anything more on the subject. They both turned to see Priam approaching, and Lila grinned at him. As far as father-in-laws went, Priam was the best, and that was saying a lot considering it came from Lila whose history with father figures was none too forgiving. "I need to speak with you, my son."
"Of course," Hector said.
"Should I leave?" Lila offered immediately in case it was something they couldn't discuss in front of her. She was aware of the sexism in ancient politics and had already decided she wouldn't rock that boat too much. Hector treated her as an equal, but she couldn't expect every man to be as forward thinking as her husband -or as trustful of her.
"No-no. With your knowledge of the future, I am curious to hear your thoughts on this. We have received news that Dardania was sacked during the war. The prince Aeneas has led a group out of Troad for he thought Troy had been taken." Lila smiled unexpectedly as she realized how important this was. She hadn't even considered how saving Troy could have completely disrupted history since she had been one hundred percent behind keeping the city safe. "I will send men out to search for them and tell them Troy still stands."
"Don't," Lila warned swiftly, and the two men looked at her with mute curiosity. "Aeneas' offspring will build one of history's most influential and powerful empires." 'Rome,' she added mentally to herself. Without Rome, where would the future be? She was suddenly so grateful that Aeneas had made a run for it. "He has to do that. I can't say how it will affect Troy's future, but he has to establish that empire."
Priam's brow lifted as he considered this information momentarily. "Very well. Aeneas' father Anchises is a cousin of mine. Perhaps one day this great empire you speak of will recognize our common bond and not threaten Troy."
"I don't know," Lila admitted once more. It would be advantageous to have Rome for an ally without a doubt, and she seemed to think that Rome occupied portions of Turkey. 'Hello, Istanbul-Constantinople.' She smiled to herself. Who knew what could happen?
"Hector and Paris told me of your journey, my dear," Priam said gently. "I am relieved that the gods have returned my children to me and have allowed you to stay with us as well. I know that it has been difficult for you to surrender your life, but I hope that in time you will consider Troy your home."
Lila softened easily at his kind words. For such a powerful king, he was so kind and gentle to her. In fact, he had always been overwhelmingly nice though Lila still had no idea why. Initially, she had thought perhaps he was simply a chivalrous person. Then, she wondered if he were simply happy because she was Hector's mistress, and his son was trapped in a loveless marriage. Now of course he had the knowledge that Lila with Hector's help had managed to save his beloved kingdom and people. She supposed for that she would forever be on his good side. "It is really hard," she admitted earnestly. "I wasn't able to tell my brother good bye, and I miss my mom so much." She was surprised that for once she didn't tear up speaking about her family, and she wasn't sure if she should be happy or sad about that. Was she already forgetting how much they meant to her? "My mom used to tell me, 'Home is where your heart is.' If that's the case, then Troy is my home."
"Your mother was a wise woman," Priam offered earnestly, and it made Lila's heart swell with pride. "I would have liked to have met her."
"The feeling is mutual," Lila said and laughed lightly.
"She was a good woman," Hector added and took his wife's hand comfortingly.
"There is something else I wish to discuss with you, my boy," Priam continued with some unspoken happiness dancing about the depths of his ice blue eyes. He often had that abrupt, mysterious quality about him, and Lila had come to love it.
"What is it, father?" the prince asked.
"Now that this war is over, I have been considering many things. I feel that the gods have blessed us and given us an opportunity for a fresh start. With that in mind, I am by no means a young man any longer, and I must admit when it is time for me to step aside. Troy deserves a new beginning, and I have always said you would lead her into an age of victory. This is your time, my son." Hector's face was drawn at the seriousness of his father's words, and he peered up at Priam with a hint of uncertainty. Lila couldn't blame him. When Priam approached them so innocently only minutes earlier, admittedly neither had suspected this whatsoever. When Hector didn't respond, Priam continued, "Will you take my place?"
Hector straightened then, gathering a royal air about him, and he nodded firmly. "Yes, father. I would be honored." Lila felt near tears as she stared proudly at her husband. She had always known he would make an amazing king, and she couldn't believe that it was finally his time. The possibilities under his rule were endless, and for the first time since returning to Troy, Lila was grateful the gods had sent them back. Troy needed Hector perhaps even more than Hector needed Troy, and she knew that as Priam had foretold, he would lead the city into an age of victory.
Priam's gaze then turned to the redhead, and he added, "Troy will have a new queen as well then." At his words, all the blood drained from Lila's face, and her eyes nearly grew to the size of saucers. Sure, she was Hector's wife, and with him becoming king, that would make her a queen; but Lila hadn't even thought of this when Priam made his offer. Her? A meager high school teacher from Arizona? She couldn't be a queen. "I think she might faint," Priam warned, and Hector put a hand on her shoulder to steady her just in case.
Lila didn't faint. She was completely, one hundred percent conscious and awake as if someone had thrown her in a bath of ice cold water. Finally, she admitted, "I still haven't gotten used to being a princess."
Hector and Priam laughed that that was her first response. "You will make a fine queen," the latter assured her. "You saved this city after all. You deserve to bear its crown above any."
A plethora of reasons why she didn't deserve the crown flooded her mind, but she realized spilling her insecurities out to her father-in-law when he was granting her the opportunity of a lifetime was not ideal. Already, she was thinking, 'If you're going to be a queen, you have got to get your shit together, Rosenthal.' She stared into Hector's eyes and saw her own apprehension mirrored back at her. Hector had literally been bred for this, but she recognized that even he was a little shook up by the abruptness. Without even realizing it, she smiled encouragingly at him and gently nodded her head as if to silently assure him, 'You were made for this.' Hector returned her smile, and she was pleased to see he looked slightly more confident.
"We will begin preparing for the ceremony as soon as possible," Priam decided proudly, ignorant to the wordless exchange between his son and daughter-in-law.
Lila suddenly realized she had to pee. 'Damn nervous pees,' she thought to herself. It always came at the most inopportune moments, and she willed herself to ignore it. Considering that the entire mass of Trojan people were crowded before them to witness the crowning ceremony, she couldn't exactly slip away to handle her business without anyone noticing. Not to mention, what kind of tone would that set for her rule beside Hector if she couldn't even hold it together long enough to have Priam put the crown on her head? 'Breathe. Focus. You can do this. It's just a crown. It's just leading an entire kingdom of people... Oh shit balls. Wait. Don't look scared,' her mind continued. However, when you're attempting to calm yourself, it never seems to actually work. It's like tickling yourself: not possible. She glanced over at Hector, and he was completely serious and attentive to the ceremony. His ability to maintain his attention despite his nerves only made Lila realize how much she was not cut out for this. She was glad she didn't have to say anything or walk a long distance. If she had, she probably would have pulled a Miss Teen South Carolina or face planted in front of everyone. Hector had much more to do since he would in fact be king, and she once more looked at him and noted he appeared as cool as a cucumber. 'Jesus. I'm about to pee my pants, and he looks like he's done this for years. Ok. Look cool. Act cool. But not too cool. You don't want to look like a jackass... and stop talking to yourself.'
Hector stepped forward from her side then to ascend the small set of stairs and stand before his father and before his people. She suddenly felt twenty times more nervous without him at her side. His collected presence beside her had kept her from going too completely insane, and now she felt exposed without him. However, she wasn't able to dwell on that feeling for long because it was time. She had been so consumed by her anxiety that she hadn't even been paying attention to what was going on in front of her. She stared at Hector's back and mentally assured him as if he could read her thoughts, 'No worries. You are going to be great.' There was some ritual involving drinking something and taking an oath, and once finished, he turned to look down at his wife. Lila smiled brightly at him and forgot momentarily that she was a part of the ceremony and not simply a spectator. Hector nodded his head slightly to remind her to join him, and her heart was in her throat. Lila wasn't proud of it, but for a split second, her mind told her to run. Instead, she ascended the stairs with as much grace as she could muster, praying to any god or goddess that would listen to keep her from falling on her face.
Hector was grinning broadly at her, and when she arrived beside him, he whispered, "No stumbling." The night before she had confessed to him that her greatest fear would be to stumble and fall flat on her face in front of everyone. Naturally, he had to point it out.
"Miracles do happen," she murmured back with a smile and suddenly remembered once more how badly she had to pee. 'Damn nervous pees,' she thought yet again as she faced Priam who was smiling kindly down at her. His ice blue eyes lit up in happiness at seeing the new royals before him, and the crowns were presented to the king. 'This is it,' her mind pointed out as if she didn't already realize it, and she couldn't remember ever being such a tense ball of nerves, excitement, and fear. Then she heard her mom's voice float through her mind, 'Whatever happens you always remember where you came from. You think of me and Liam, and you make us proud. You hear me?' Her mother's words steeled Lila, and she swiftly decided, 'I will.'
Without pause, Priam lifted the larger crown, and Hector bowed his head expectantly. Once it was nestled on properly, Hector lifted his gaze to consider his father who was absolutely beaming down at him. Then Priam took the smaller crown, and Lila held her breath as she bent her head forward. The feeling of Priam placing its weight on her head was completely terrifying and exciting all at once. Like her husband, she raised her eyes and peered up at Priam. His eyes granted her some silent encouragement, and she was grateful for it. Hector took her hand then, and she had never felt more proud of him. Seeing him with the crown of Troy upon his head seemed so natural and right, and her heart swelled at the sight until she wondered how she didn't take flight or explode from the pressure. He squeezed her hand gently, and together they faced the crowd of people gathered while Priam declared loudly, "People of Troy I present you your new king, Hector, and queen, Lila." The crowd applauded and cheered so loudly that it was almost deafening, and Lila found she couldn't quite describe the complicated mixture of feelings coursing through her. As they descended the stairs, those they passed bowed low to them, and Lila realized she would never be able to avoid the bowing. It surprisingly made her smile because it made her note how far she had come. Wasn't it only a year ago that she had arrived a stranger in a strange land, and now she was a queen of Troy? In such a short time, she had transformed completely from the cynical, lonely, meager high school teacher into a woman who had saved a city, had fallen hopelessly in love, and would now nurture the family that they had begun while ruling beside her husband.
The celebrations that night rivaled even those at the supposed end of the war, and Lila briefly wondered if the Trojan people weren't simply happy because they had had three major city-wide parties since Lila arrived, two of which actually honored the pair now seated at the head of the events. It felt bizarre being the center of attention with Priam seated off to the side for once, but Lila was grateful for Hector's presence beside her. So long as she had him, she could face anything. He gave her strength, and she took his hand beneath the table. At the feeling, Hector turned to consider her, and she smiled hesitantly up at him. He could easily read the emotions whirling around inside her, and he leaned closer to her. "You have nothing to fear, my love."
She blushed slightly and realized that he had been spending most of the days since they discovered they would be crowned reassuring her. It reminded her that she needed to be stronger. "I'm so proud of you," she returned earnestly.
"As I am of you," he rejoined without pause. "I could not do this without you by my side."
Lila rolled her eyes and assured him, "You could do this with a blindfold on and your hands tied behind your back. You were made to be king. I'm just along for the ride."
Hector smirked and shook his head gently. "I trust you more than any man. I will need your counsel and guidance. I can't do this alone."
"You're sweet," she decided. "You know I'll always be here to help you through anything -not that you ever need my help."
He frowned at her persistent modesty and pointed out, "There would not be a Troy without you."
He had her there, but she felt weird acknowledging that she had any reason to be seated beside him at that very moment. All she had done was love Hector with her entire heart and soul. Everything else just seemed to fall into place. She bent even closer to her husband and lowered her voice as she joked, "So does this mean we get the big bedroom?"
Hector laughed heartily and admitted, "Not yet, my love. King or not I wouldn't dare kick my elderly father out of his room." Lila grinned and reached up to kiss him gently. He was her best friend, her only love, her husband, the father of her children, her prince, and now her king. How much more could one man embody? Hector shouldered all his responsibilities so easily that one would have thought he didn't even notice the weight of them resting on his shoulders. As they grew closer, however, he had allowed Lila to share more of his burden, and she loved how he let her in to see that he could not always handle things on his own. He let her see that at his core he was human and flawed though it was easy to forget. In that moment, she silently swore to him that she would be the best she could possibly be for him.
Although it was flattering having people kiss her ass for an entire evening, Lila was incredibly grateful when she could return to their chambers with her husband at her side. The moment the door closed behind them and all the servants left the room, the King and Queen of Troy collapsed onto the bed with exhausted sighs. Lila hadn't even realized that she had been forcing herself to sit taller than ever before, but now her back was sore from forcing her posture. Hector seemed to be feeling the same way, and for awhile, neither even spoke a word. It was simply nice to enjoy the peace and quiet inside their room and away from the revelry.
"I keep thinking I'm going to wake up, and this is all just a dream," Lila finally admitted.
Hector pushed her hair from her face and tenderly stroked her cheek. "If it is a dream, it is the best one I have ever had, and I hope I never wake."
"Me too," she agreed and turned her face to kiss the palm of his hand. Her eyes closed, and she allowed her senses to recognized the familiarity of his touch on her skin. She loved the slight roughness from the callouses on his hands. It was almost the manifestation of how rough he could be around the edges, but then he would touch her with such tenderness that it showed how gentle he in fact was on the inside. When her hazel eyes considered her husband once more, she acknowledged, "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me."
"To you?" he joked sarcastically. "You saved my life, my city, and my family. What have I given you in return?"
"You saved me," she said earnestly. "I didn't even know how lost I was until you found me."
"I feel the same." Her fingertips met his jaw then, and she followed the strong line down to his chin while her eyes drank in his perfect face. In the candlelight, his tan skin was darker than usual, and his normally medium brown curls and chocolate eyes had a certain glow as they reflected the light. One of her fingers idly traced the small scar on his cheek situated above the grain of his beard, and she noted how even his imperfections were beautiful to her. The gold embroidered on his royal blue robes shimmered with every steady breath he took, and her hand fell to trace the length of his arm, enjoying the feel of each developed muscle beneath her touch. Everything about him in that moment was so disarmingly handsome, and for some reason, her mind recalled the first time she saw him in the dungeons beneath the palace floors from long ago. Never did she think that that brave, strong, authoritative man would one day be hers, yet here he was lying in their bed beside her, watching her inspect him without saying a word. It was like a fairytale but so much better than that even. It was beyond anything she could have ever dreamt.
Her eyes returned to his, and he took her hand to clasp it between them. "I love you so much."
He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly and gently. "I love you too."
Gazing at him then, she recognized that she had no idea what would come tomorrow or years down the line. She didn't know how to be a queen or how to govern a kingdom of people, but like with riding the horse, learning to trust her heart, fighting the Greeks, defying the gods, and everything else in her life, she took one resolute step forward at a time. Each day would take strength, confidence, and determination, and she would have to face the good times and the bad without fear. In that moment, she faced the vast, unknown expanse of the rest of her life and felt as though her foot were poised above the unmarred sand, awaiting the inevitable trek across those lands. All she could be certain of was that with Hector at her side she was ready to start.
The End
Author's Note: I want to dedicate this final, full chapter to EmmyMK since you reviewed every single chapter religiously haha It always gave me something to look forward to after I uploaded a new section, and I was always excited to see what you would say. Thank you as well for the most recent lovely review, and I'm glad you're happy that everything has turned out well for these two. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well. I took my time uploading it since I knew this was the last one, and I didn't want to rush it (not to mention I'm a little sad to end it). There will be an epilogue coming that I have already written. However, I want to read through it a few more times and possibly add to it to make sure it wraps everything up well xoxoxo
