Thank you all for your reviews, hope you enjoy this chapter! And yes, to someone who asked about Cassandra I do have something special planned for her.

…

Andromache spent the next day trying to figure out what excuse she could use. Since Maira had been masquerading as a free servant, there were no rules that said servants could not wed. She could travel at will and attend festivals- just like the one the previous night- whereas if she were a slave she was forbidden from doing all this. Slaves were looked down upon and treated with contempt, even by other servants. Maira would lose her status as Andromache's handmaiden and would be treated rudely by Hector's servants if they ever found out. She would be forbidden from roaming the city and she could be sentenced to death for dancing at the festival.

Andromache finally came to the conclusion that Maira must simply repel his advances. Because she had no family, the correct person to apply for permission to marry her would be Hector. And Andromache had no desire to bring this to Hector's attention; she wasn't sure how he would react.

In the seclusion of her bedchamber she told her plan to Maira.

"You must simply tell him that you have no desire to wed him and that his proposal would be denied," she informed her friend. "Tell him it was just harmless flirtation."

"Will Diocus persist, do you think?" Maira asked her.

Andromache shrugged, "I don't know. But come, we'll do it while Hector's out. We can go now, if you'd like. I'll come with you, just to make sure everything goes alright."

Maira nodded and the two set off, quickly reaching the marketplace. Andromache led the way until she spotted Diocus and she stopped and waited for Maira to catch up. As Maira moved into a position where she could see Diocus, she paused for a moment, forgetting about Andromache. Her face softened and she gazed at him, working at his stand. He did not see her; he was busy with a customer. She was content to stand there, simply watching him, and the look on her face made Andromache's heart stop.

By the gods, Andromache thought, stunned. She's in love with him. This thought ran through her mind over and over again, but in a moment Andromache realized what to do.

"Maira," Andromache called her over, steeling her nerves. "Go back to the palace and wait for me."

Maira looked at her, shocked. "Why?" she demanded.

"Because I told you to," Andromache snapped, her heart inwardly breaking. "Do as I say." Her voice left no argument and Maira turned to leave, hurt at this harsh treatment. Andromache felt horrible for what she'd just done, but she knew that she had to.

She took a deep breath and walked over to Diocus, who had just made a sale and was smiling happily. "You are Diocus?" she asked. It was more of a statement than a question.

"I am, my lady, what may I do to serve you?" he asked, bowing low.

"I am Princess Andromache, wife to Hector," she said stiffly, trying to get a feel for him. "I understand you've been… addressing my servant."

Diocus looked a bit nervous under this stern treatment, but he nodded honestly. "I hope my addresses were not ill received. I assure you I had no knowledge if they were."

"No, they were not ill received- on Maira's part," Andromache said. "And you wished to know whom to ask for her hand?"

Diocus nodded. "She said she'd come with you from Thebe, so would I be correct in assuming that I must address myself to Prince Hector?"

Andromache nodded. "Is there a private place we could speak?" They were standing in the front of his stand.

He nodded and pulled her behind the stand, where all his extra merchandise was stored.

Andromache took a deep breath, hoping she wasn't about to make a very fatal mistake. "Why do you wish to marry Maira?" she asked hurriedly, getting right to the point.

"Because I have feelings for her," he replied honestly.

"What if I told you that in order to marry her, you'd have to buy her?"

Diocus looked confused. "A bridal price? Well, that's to be expected."

Andromache's hands were shaking and she took a shaky breath. "What if her bridal price were to purchase her freedom?" she asked softly.

Slaves were not allowed to marry, period. To marry a slave was unheard of, it was a breach of the social rules. He would be looked down upon, she would be scorned, and their children would be mocked.

Diocus inhaled sharply. "She's a slave?" he asked quietly, his brow furrowed.

Andromache nodded, then boldly plunged ahead. "Hear me out. She has no mark on her and I have allowed her to masquerade as a free servant all her life. She's a slave of war; her parents were respectable middle class people that lived in a nearby city. My brothers sacked the city and took her captive, giving her to me as a maidservant. We never marked her and we've grown up as sisters. She's gone with me everywhere and I wouldn't be doing this now if it weren't for her. In fact, we were both here to inform you that your suit would be rejected but then I saw the way she looked at you. She's in love with you and her happiness means the world to me. No other person has ever been so close to me as she has been; I can barely remember my life before our friendship began."

Diocus looked at her shrewdly. "And you're willing to give her up to me?"

"We love each other like sisters," Andromache shrugged. "And she's now in love with you. That's the only reason I'm doing this."

Diocus paused, considering. "Make no mistake, I love her. But if it were to be found out that she is a slave, the consequences would be huge."

"She has no mark," Andromache repeated firmly. "No one knows except the two of us and my husband. He'll allow for her sale, you can buy her and make her your wife. But mark my words." Andromache looked deep into his eyes. "If you buy her you make her your wife, if you refuse I will kill you with my bare hands. She will not be the slave to a cruel master."

He held her gaze just as strongly. "I will make her my wife," he promised quietly. "But do you realize the penalties for this?"

"I do," she said, her voice soft. "And I repeat, I'm doing this for her. She has been there for me through the worst and best times of my life, and this is the least I can do for her."

"So be it. Tonight I shall come for her purchase and then in seven days' time I'll come to make her my bride. All the arrangements for the ceremony will be ready by then."

"Your family will accept her?"

"They will know of her as your maidservant, no more. Only four shall know the truth."

Andromache nodded and took her leave, walking quickly back to the palace. Her throat felt swollen and she could feel tears prickling at her eyes but she blinked them back. She strode into her bedchamber, empty of people and then quickly walked out onto the balcony. In just a few hours' time it would be evening and the deed will have been done. She would not see anyone- especially Maira- until after the purchase was made; she would not be able to go through with it otherwise. Hours later, she heard Hector come into the room but did not turn to greet him.

"Soon a man is coming to make a purchase," she informed him, emotions raging within her.

"What's the merchandise?" he asked, confused at her behavior.

"I'm selling Maira," she said, the words sounding hollow. I'm selling Maira, she thought scornfully. How can one just sell one's best friend? Words cannot express it. I'm giving away the closest person I've ever known; I'm giving away a sister. No, I'm selling a sister.

"I hope this is not a hasty act that is the result of a quarrel," Hector said concerned. He walked over to her and gently reached for her, but she jerked away and continued staring out at the city.

"It's not, my decision is final," Andromache said. "You are my husband and therefore you must make the transaction, that's why I'm informing you."

"I'm not sure I wish to make this transaction," Hector said.

"Make it, Hector," Andromache snapped. "She is mine and I can sell her if I wish."

"But I know you don't wish to sell her," he replied gently.

"I never said I did." Her throat tightened and she swallowed, blinking quickly. "But I'm selling her nonetheless."

A knock sounded at the door and a servant informed Hector that a man was waiting to make a transaction.

"Andromache, will you tell me what this is about?"

Andromache could feel her will about to give away and she knew that in a moment she wouldn't be able to go through with it. She shook her head, barely able to breathe. "Just do it, please," she whispered miserably.

Hector was inwardly battling, but he nodded and went out to make the transaction. Five minutes later, it was done. Maira's price had been paid for; she was no longer theirs. Hector came back into the room, inwardly hoping he'd just done the right thing.

"Andromache, will you tell me now?" he asked. "It's done, the purchase has been made."

Upon hearing his words, she choked up and the tears she'd been working so hard to hold back started falling. "I sold her," she gasped out, sobbing.

"I know, but why?" he asked gently, taking her in his arms.

"Because she loves him," she sobbed into his chest. "And she deserves to be happy."

"Happy how?" he asked, confused.

"He's going to marry her," she choked out, not quite hearing the words. "And she's going to go live with him and bear his children."

"But slaves can't marry," he protested, confused.

"Not if no one knows they're slaves," she whispered miserably. "Her secret is safe."

"She's not marked?"

Andromache shook her head then pulled away. "I must go tell her," she said, wiping her face only to have more tears stream down her cheeks. She grabbed the purse of coins – ten minar was what he'd paid, a good price for a slave – and walked into Maira's room, dismissing the other servant girl.

Maira looked up at her, confused at her tears. Andromache tossed the bag to her.

"I sold you," she said calmly, the tears still falling. "I sold my best friend for the price of ten minar."

Maira looked up, shocked. "Why?" she stammered, her heart leaping into her throat.

"Because you love him," Andromache whispered miserably. "And I couldn't bear to see you forced to give him up."

"To… Diocus?" Maira asked. "You sold me to Diocus?"

Andromache nodded, "You're to be married in seven days' time, I have his word on it."

Maira's lip was trembling and her own eyes were beginning to well up. "I'm to marry him?" she asked, hardly daring to believe it.

Andromache nodded, breaking into fresh sobs. Maira grabbed her in a hug and the two women held on tight, each sobbing their heart out.

"I could never have asked for a better friend," Maira sobbed.

"You deserve the world, Maira, I am only able to give you this," Andromache whispered back. "You'll be happy."

"I always was happy, never forget that," Maira said, finally wiping her eyes. She pushed Andromache gently towards the door. "We have seven days together, but you must go back to your husband now."

Andromache nodded. "You're worth more than what he paid for you, you know."

"And you're worth more than the price your husband paid for you," Maira replied. "But men have a way of misjudging the cost of items," she teased, her eyes still red. "Women, on the other hand, know the true worth of things."

"Goodnight," Andromache said softly, smiling.

"Goodnight, Andromache," Maira replied. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"And for seven more days," Andromache said, leaving and shutting the door softly. A servant passed her in the hall and stopped, concerned at her tears.

"Are you alright, princess?"

"I'm fine," Andromache replied. "I just lost a priceless treasure today."

"Where'd you lose it?" the girl asked, wondering if they could retrieve it.

"In the marketplace," Andromache said softly, continuing on her way. The servant girl shook her head, treasures lost in the busy marketplace wouldn't be found.