Hope you all enjoy this one, it's been my favorite one to write so far. The next one won't be up for a couple of days, because I've got a lot of things going on. So hopefully this'll hold you all off until then.

…

Andromache was awoken the next morning by a knocking on her door. Groaning, she called out, "What is it?"

"Prince Hector sent me," a voice answered back. "He said he would like to take you riding today, and requested that you be ready to leave in a half hour."

"What time is it?" Andromache called out.

"It is well into the ninth hour, my lady."

Sighing, she replied, "Tell him I'll be ready. And send my handmaiden in," she added.

She lay in bed until Maira came in a few minutes later. "What is it?"

"I'm to go out riding with Hector, I need to be ready in a half hour."

Maira clucked her tongue and went to get a robe. Andromache stiffly got out of bed, sore from last night's outing. "I forgot I hadn't ridden a horse in ages."

"Hadn't? Where were you last night? I asked the guards but they said you'd gone out praying to Artemis and said that you weren't expected for a few hours, so I went to bed."

"I was out with Briseis and Cassandra," Andromache replied. "We rode up into the hills."

Maira's eyes got wide. "Alone? At night?!"

"They convinced me," Andromache replied. "I'll tell you everything later, right now I need to hurry and get ready."

"What time did you get to bed?"

"In the early hours of the morning, the feast lasted quite some time and we went afterwards."

Maira quickly and skillfully prepared Andromache just within a half hour. She kissed her friend then ran through the halls and found Hector waiting at the entrance to the quarters.

"Andromache, you look lovely," Hector praised her, and led her towards the stables.

"I was still abed when you sent for me, I didn't think I'd be ready in time."

"Are you well? You look a bit stiff," Hector said, noticing the change in her gait.

Andromache searched for an excuse, "I am not used to the size of this palace, back in Thebe everything was much smaller."

Hector thought it a bit odd, but said nothing. A moment later they'd reached the stables, and he led her to where his horses were kept. "I remember you said you hadn't ridden in awhile, so I think I'll let you ride this mare. She's an easy horse, not difficult at all."

Andromache had spied the horse she'd ridden the night before. "Is that your horse also?"

Hector looked to where she was pointing. "Yes, but he's a bit spirited. I don't want you riding him your first time out, he's a bit of a speed demon."

"Oh, but I like him. He's got gentle eyes," Andromache said, making something up. "Besides, you'll be right there next to me the whole time, and I'm sure you're perfectly able to handle your own horse." She had him trapped, and he realized it. Unless he was going to deny he knew how to handle his own horses, he had to let her ride him.

"Alright, but I want a lead line on him- and no arguments," he said sternly as Andromache opened her mouth.

He gave orders for the horses to be saddled and led Andromache out into the stable yard to wait. Soon after, a servant led the two horses out and Andromache was able to get a better look at her mount. He was a dark bay, with big brown eyes that looked every which way. Powerfully built, his muscles rippled under his shining coat, making him glow with beauty. He was built to be able to withstand long distances at a fast speed, which is what Andromach loved. She turned to look at Hector's horse, a white stallion with equally powerful legs. He had a scar across his left flank and Andromache had a thought.

"Are these horses trained for war?"

Hector nodded. "The horse I'm riding I've ridden in many battles, that's where he got his scar. Now he's retired from war, but I still use him for pleasure rides. He's a good mount, sturdy and calm. Your horse is still to green for war, but he's in training. He's still a bit flighty and nervous, which is why I haven't ridden him out into battle yet."

"What are their names?"

"Your mount I bred and raised here in my own stable; the day he was born we had a solar eclipse so I named him after that. Mine I named after a fear he's had ever since he was a foal, which I still haven't managed to get ride of."

"What is it?" Andromache asked, intrigued.

"Rabbits," Hector answered back sheepishly.

"His name is Rabbit?" Andromache asked, barely holding in laughter.

"He's dodged spears and stood still with swords clashing around him, but he will turn tail and flee at the sight of a rabbit," Hector admitted, patting the horse's neck.

Andromache broke into laughter, gasping out, "I don't think that's a great way to impress others. 'The Great Warrior Hector riding Rabbit'."

Hector smiled, enjoying her laugh. It was the first time she had laughed in front of him. "Well, I'll ride Eclipse when he's ready, so that sounds a bit more fearsome," he amended. "Here, let me help you up."

He easily lifted Andromache up and placed a saddle bag on his own horse before mounting.

"What's in the bag?" Andromache asked curiously.

"Lunch," said Hector with a smile. "It takes a few hours to get where I'm taking you, but it's worth the ride."

They set off at a brisk walk, Hector holding the lead to Andromache's horse. Andromache was inwardly laughing as she recognized the path they were taking and couldn't wait to tell Cassandra and Briseis. As time passed Andromache grew slightly bored with the slow pace, so she suggested they hurry a bit. Hector obliged her by urging his horse into a trot, and Eclipse followed, still being led. They reached the fork in the road and sure enough, Hector took the right road. They passed the same grove of trees and as soon as they cleared it, Hector led them off the path.

"This plain looks flat, why don't we go a bit faster," Andromache suggested, inwardly bubbling with mirth.

"Just a bit," Hector agreed, and kicked his horse into a slow canter. Andromache waited until he wasn't looking, then kicked Eclipse into a gallop. Hector frowned- thinking the horse had run away on her- and pulled on the lead, bringing him back down to a canter. Andromache kicked him again and Hector again pulled on the lead, this time frowning at Andromache. She gave him a look and he shook his head.

Fine, Andromache thought. Have it your way. She quickly and skillfully reached down to the horse's mouth and unclipped the lead, then kicked him back into a gallop and shot ahead. She flew across the plain, Eclipse picking up speed, and heard Hector coming up fast next to her. She tensed, ready to push him away if he tried to fasten the lead again, but he only gave her a challenging look before pulling ahead.

It was a race. Andromache responded courageously, urging Eclipse faster. The two of them flew across the plain, Andromache's hair whipping back behind her. They were neck and neck now, with only a few hundred meters to go. But Hector was pulling ahead, and abruptly pulled up with Andromache following suit. They'd reached the end of the plain.

Andromache's cheeks were red from the wind and she was breathing fast, but a bright smile adorned her face.

"I win," Hector said softly, a teasing look in his eyes.

"You win," Andromache agreed. "But someday I shall beat you."

"Not likely, Andromache." Hector started leading her up the hills. "Do you know what they call me?"

"Of course, Tamer of Horses. But I repeat, I shall beat you."

The two rode in silence now, enjoying the scenery. Around an hour later, the reached the same spot Cassandra had led Andromache the previous night.

Hector dismounted a few yards away from the edge, then went over and lifted Andromache down. He led her to the edge of the hill, right up to the drop-off, and pointed out the view.

"This hill offers the best view of all. Nowhere else will you see such a sight."

Andromache smiled, taking it in. It was nothing compared to what it looked like bathed in moonlight, but the view was still stunning. The water shown clear blue and the city stood out against the hills, peaceful and reassuring.

"It is beautiful, Hector," she said smiling.

Hector stood there, stunned. There, Mother, we're not married and she's already called me Hector, he thought, ecstatic. Unaware of the effect she'd just produced in him, Andromache went over to set up the blanket and their lunch. Hector helped her, and the two sat down together.

"That's the first time you've ever called me by my first name, you know."

Andromache looked up. "Do you remember what I said to you when we first met, at the banquet?"

"I remember everything you've ever said to me. You told me you were not in the habit of addressing unfamiliar men by their first name."

"Well, then there's no reason for me not to call you Hector, is there?"

"Apparently not," Hector replied quietly. Andromache handed him a plate with a large helping of the food he'd brought, and he took it. The two ate in silence, then Andromache turned to him.

"I met your sisters," she informed him.

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh? Which ones?"

"Cassandra, Polyxena, and Laodice. I also met your cousin, Briseis."

Hector nodded. "I thought you two would get along."

Andromache cocked her head to one side. "Why? We're nothing alike."

"On the contrary, you two are very much alike," Hector disagreed. "I- being an impartial observer- know this for a fact."

"Well then, how are we alike?"

"Oh, I can't tell you, that would reveal how much of you I really know."

"Is it much?" Andromache asked him cheekily.

"You'd be surprised," Hector retorted.

"Fine, then tell me something about myself that you've observed. And it can't be something I've told you."

"You are naturally distrustful of men."

"I am not!" Andromache objected. "Just some."

"Wrong. You are naturally distrustful of men unless given a reason to trust them, whereas you are naturally trustful of women unless given a reason not to trust them."

"Well, if I am can you blame me?" Andromache amended. "Without men there would be no slaughter or rape or destruction. There would be no war or fighting."

"Considering without men the human race would cease to exist, you are most certainly correct," Hector said seriously, then ducked as Andromache took a swat at him.

"You know what I mean."

"I don't think we're all that bad," Hector protested. "Not every man is like that."

"That's because you're not a woman. Even kind men still hold power over women. For instance, once we are married you will own me. I am yours, you are allowed to do to me what you will. If I cease to please you, you may cast me away or have me killed. However, if you do not please me I have no options and my feelings on the matter have no bearing. You do not have to take attendants with you if you go out at night, for you are in no danger of being raped. During war, it is the men who are mercifully killed, while the women are taken as captives, made to watch the death of their husbands and children and then serve the people who murdered them. I told you once what I fear."

"You fear slavery, I remember."

"Well then, can you blame me for being distrustful? At any moment my life can cease to become my own; it can be taken by another stronger than myself."

Hector reflected on her words, then nodded. "If I were you I would most likely feel the same way. Tell me, do you fear me, Andromache?"

She was startled by the question, and took a moment to think. "Yes," she finally admitted. "Or rather, I fear what you may do to me. Perhaps it is the same, I don't know."

"But I have given you no reason to fear me."

"You are a man," Andromache said simply. "It is enough. And unlike most men, who hold a distant threat, you are a very real threat. In just two short weeks I will be yours, so therefore your threat is greater."

There was silence between them as they thought, then Hector continued. "Before you never would have admitted this."

"Well, you've given me reason to grant you trust and no reason for me to withhold it."

The silence resumed, finally broken by Andromache. "We should start back," she said, pointing to the sun which indicated that they'd passed midday. Hector nodded and they quickly packed up and loaded everything onto the horses. Hector once again lightly lifted Andromache up, but paused in midair, suddenly realizing her point. She smiled down at him, knowing that he understood. He did have power over her, whether he realized it or not. Simply by being a man he was physically stronger, which made him a threat. He smiled sadly back and set her on the horse, the mounted his own. He was about to start when Andromache called his name softly.

"Hector." He didn't turn around but she continued regardless. "I shall learn to love you though," she said quietly.

He smiled, still facing away, and just as softly replied, "I know." The journey back was spent in silence, but it was a peaceful, friendly silence and the two of them parted on good terms, each one enjoying the time they'd spent together.

Slowly but surely, they were learning to love.