Once again, thanks for all the reviews. I'm glad you guys like this story, it's really fun to write.

UPDATE: Someone asked awhile ago how many chapters there will be; well, I've decided that I'll write at least one for every month of their marriage for the first year (which is when the story stops if you read last chapter's notes) so there will be at least 25 or so. Maybe more, depending, but I decided since like 10 or 11 chapters are before their marriage, I wanted to have just as many afterwards. So it will be somewhere in the 25 range. A few more or a few less, but someone around there.

…

And teach her to swim he did. The very next afternoon Hector led Andromache to the beach and gave her a swimming lesson, the first of many. She was a quick learner and within a month was perfectly comfortable in the water and was planning on teaching Cassandra and Briseis this new trick.

The second month of their marriage was going well when rumors of war hit them, and Hector was given orders to start training the army. Apparently a large city had refused to pay the tax fee for passage through the Hellespont- which Priam controlled- and instead had opened fire on the fleet of ships.

Early the following morning Hector rose early, kissed Andromache who was still sleeping, and headed out for a hard day's work in the sun. She awoke a few hours later and was slightly perturbed at not finding her husband with her. A servant girl came in bringing in breakfast for one and Andromache stopped her.

"Where is Hector?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

"He's training the army, princess," the girl replied.

"Oh, that's right. I'd forgotten," Andromache mused. "How long will he be gone?"

The servant girl paused. "In the years I've been in his service the training usually lasts all day. I wouldn't expect him before nightfall, since they try to use all the daylight they can."

Andromache thought about this and moved to dismiss the girl then quickly changed her mind. "Where do they train?"

"In the plain in front of the city," the girl replied. "Many of the women will go to the wall to watch them."

"Thank you, you may go," Andromache said, quickly dressing and consuming her breakfast. Grabbing a veil to shield her from the harsh sun, she quickly set off for the wall.

Awhile later she arrived, hot and sweaty, but she courageously climbed the steps and joined the many women who respectfully made way for her.

"Andromache," a voice called out. She turned and saw Priam coming towards her. "Come, my dear. I have a shaded pavilion where you shall sit with me."

She respectfully bowed her head and followed him, smiling at Hecuba who was already sitting down. She sat on the other side of Priam and was grateful when he pointed out the different divisions.

"There's Hector," he said, gesturing to a man barely visible, riding up and down the ranks. "His friend Artrides- the one who toasted you at your wedding- is the leader of the Apollonian guards. There they are, to the side of the army. They don't fight in direct conflict, they're used for sweeping in for sudden attacks. You see all the spearmen- they're at the front- with the archers right behind them."

He explained the different positions to her, and she was grateful for his help, though her eyes were only on Hector. He was wearing his armor, though he'd neglected his helmet, and the sun would catch on his breastplate, making it flash suddenly. He'll be sunburned when he finally comes in, Andromache thought suddenly, glancing up at the canopy shielding her.

She stayed there watching for most of the afternoon and with words of thanks to Priam, set off for home. Priam ordered a guard to accompany her so Andromache made a quick detour to an exotic florists shop.

"I need an aloe plant," she said. "Do you have one?"

The kind-faced lady nodded, "Yes, princess, but are you sure you'd like a whole plant? I can clip off some of the branches for you- that will work just as well. They're very hard to keep alive, especially in our climate."

Andromache shook her head. "I have a feeling I'll be needing more than a few branches in the following weeks."

"May the gods bless you, poor Prince Hector out there drilling the men day after day." She shook her head. "It's a pity we must go to war again. My son is in the army, you know. Young boy, just barely a man, and he is off to fight for his country. Ah well, there's no one I'd rather have him serve for than Prince Hector." She brought out the plant, wrapped in a pot of moist soil and gave Andromache instructions on how to keep it alive.

"It must be kept cool," she warned. "And it must be well-watered. If it seems to be dying bring it back here to me and I'll fix it up for you. I've only got a few, so don't wait until it's dead to bring it."

Andromache took it gratefully. "Thank you, how much does it cost?"

The lady shook her head, "For our prince, everything's free. I'd never dream of taking anything from his wife."

Andromache felt awkward, but thanked the lady kindly and left. A young girl ran into the shop and the florist put an arm around her.

"Who was that, Mama?" the little girl asked.

"That was Princess Andromache," the lady said smiling. "She'll make Hector a lovely wife, he deserves a woman like her." The little girl's eyes got wide and she ran off to tell her friends that her mother had just met the princess.

"And she's beautiful, too!" she was heard exclaiming to the neighborhood kids.

…

Unaware of the impression she'd just made upon them, Andromache hurried home, shielding the plant from the harsh sun. She brought it to her room- calling for a maid as she ran through the quarters- and set it in the coolest place she could find, a place where the sun never hit. A maid came in and Andromache ordered her to prepare a cool bath and asked for a pitcher of cold water so she could water the plant.

The first maid started preparing the bath and another servant girl came in, and walked over to where Andromache was fondly fingering the leaves.

"My lady, if you want I can bring you some cool rocks to place about the plant. My mother used to do it at home for when my father would burn himself working outside. You place cool rocks about it during the day, and then at night when the air is cool enough so the plant doesn't need it, you place the rocks in a basin of ice-cold water, so they're ready for the next day."

"Oh, that would be wonderful," Andromache exclaimed. The girl hurried off to find some cool rocks-it would be difficult at this time of day but perhaps the royal garden might have some extra- and Andromache proceeded to order the cook to prepare a light, cool meal for Hector.

"Don't have it ready until an hour after he comes home, though," she warned.

All her preparations having been done, she returned to her task of weaving. She'd and the servant girls had finished all the cloaks so she was working on a fine garment, which would be put in the treasury when she finished it. She heard slow footsteps coming, so she set it down and sent away the servants who were keeping her company.

Hector walked slowly into the room, his steps stiff and his arms burnt red from the sun. Andromache winced when she saw him.

"Andromache," he greeted her, then slowly and gently began to take off his armor. She hurried over to help him, trying her best to lift the heavy breastplate so it wouldn't touch his raw shoulders.

"You should've warn a light cloak to protect you from the sun," she chided, setting aside the armor onto the rack. She faced away from him as he finished taking his armor and put on a light skirt.

"I forgot until it was too late." He tied the fabric into place. "You can turn around."

She turned and was finally able to see the full extent of his burns. His face, neck, arms, and legs were all bright red, with only his back protected. She frowned and led him to the cool bath the servant girl had prepared, pulling a screen around it and leaving to pick up her weaving again.

Hector gratefully sank into the cool water, stiffening as it touched his skin but soon relaxing and enjoying the coolness. "You're the best wife a man could ask for, Andromache," he called out to her, knowing she was within hearing distance. She smiled but said nothing. "How was your day?" he asked, initiating their usual conversation.

"Good, I sat with your father for most of it."

"You were watching?" he asked, surprised. He didn't think that sort of thing would interest her.

She nodded but then remembered he couldn't see her. "Yes, under the canopy. Most all the women were up on the walls, watching."

"And how did we look?" Hector grinned.

"Well, your father pointed out the different formations to me, and I thought you looked quite good, except for when you practiced the quarter position," she said, quoting Priam's words. "The left flank was too slow and the movement wasn't as sharp as it should be."

Hector laughed outright, enjoying her "experienced" opinions. "I didn't know you were such an expert at military formations, Andromache."

She smiled. "I'm a quick learner."

"So I see," Hector replied. "I think I'll get out now, I've cooled down enough."

"Dry off, then, and come over here, I've got something to put on your burns," she ordered, going over to the plant and breaking off a few branches.

He reappeared and sat on the edge of the bed, making sure not to touch anything with his arms or legs. She sat behind him and gently squeezed out the liquid from the branches, lightly rubbing it over his body.

He hissed when her fingers came in contact with his skin and she winced. "I bought this plant from a florist nearby, the ointment helps soothe burns."

Hector was gritting his teeth but replied teasingly, "Funny, I couldn't tell."

"I'm barely touching you," Andromache chided. "I can't believe you stayed out in the sun all day with no protection. Do the soldiers also have burns?"

"No, they were carrying their shields so they use them to block the sun. Since I was commanding, I didn't need a shield." He sighed gratefully as she finished and went to throw the branches away. Andromache called for a servant to bring the dinners, but Hector shook his head.

"I'm not feeling up to eating."

"I had the cook prepare a light meal; it's just fruit and cheese," she replied, bringing the trays out to the balcony so they could get a cool breeze. She herself partook of some meat the cook had prepared, being quite hungry after the day's work.

Hector managed to eat it; the fruit was still cold from wherever it had been chilled and it tasted wonderful, though he eyed Andromache's meat distastefully.

"I don't know how you can eat that," he said, grimacing as she took a bite of her dinner.

"Unlike some people, I remember to wear a covering from the sun and hence I don't destroy my appetite," she retorted.

He threw a grape at her, prevented from replying by the fact that he knew very well he was guilty. The two finished the meal and sat in silence, enjoying the cool night's breeze.

Hector leaned back and closed his eyes. "I could fall asleep here."

"Don't," Andromache replied. "Because then tomorrow you'll wake up with a sore neck as well as a burnt body. And I'm the one that will have to put up with you when you're in a bad mood."

"Well, then, I'm going to bed. Coming?" he asked.

"In a minute."

He nodded, and Andromache watched amused as he slowly made his way into bed, swaying from side to side as he tried to keep his body as still as possible. She only stayed out for a few more minutes then quickly changed into her nightgown and crawled into bed, but he was already asleep. Sprawled out on his back with his legs and arms outstretched, he looked comical and Andromache couldn't resist laughing. She lightly kissed him on his lips- the only part of his face that wasn't burnt- and fell asleep beside him, careful not to touch him.