Thank you all for your reviews, as an update there should be only a few more chapters left. I'd say four max, not including this one. Then I'll most likely start on the sequel, but since I only have a rough idea of where I'm going with that one, I'll have to think about it a bit more before I started writing it. Enjoy!

…

Because of his wound, Hector was unable to finish training the troops. The other generals took over, fine picking the formations and making sure everything was in order. Hector was upset at not being able to oversee the last part of the training, but he secretly enjoyed at letting someone else take over.

Andromache and Hector spent nearly all their time with each other, each knowing it would be the last time they saw the other for quite some time. Because of Hector's arm, which was in a sling at Andromache's insistence, they weren't able to do many activities together, so most of the time they just took walks together. Under Andromache's watchful care, Hector's arm healed within a week and with only the smallest scar.

"It shouldn't bother you at all," she informed him, removing the bandages and inspecting it critically. "So I expect you to come back completely uninjured."

"I've no excuses," Hector agreed, flexing his arm experimentally. "Thank you."

"I must finish my weaving," Andromache said, standing up and going over to her loom.

"What are you making?"

"Another cloak, for you to take with you," she said, her fingers flying over the shuttle.

"I have three already."

"This is a light cloak."

"You already made me two," he reminded her patiently.

"Just two," she pointed out. "You'll be fighting hard, so you'll need another one in case one is torn or dirty. I would've made you a second heavy cloak, but I ran out of time. I'll just barely be able to finish this one."

He smiled, relenting the battle. "If you insist."

She glanced up at him. "I do. It'll make me feel better."

He inclined his head then left to check on Rabbit, making sure his injuries were being tended to. He'd pulled a tendon from the fall, but since the journey lasted three weeks Hector was bringing him anyways. He hoped Rabbit would be fully healed by the time the fighting started.

Returning to the room he glanced at his wife, who was still busy weaving. He pulled out a few pieces of parchment, maps of the area around Thebe. He was studying them for any advantages different fields might have and making sure they were in no danger of an ambush from where they would set up camp. Andromache glanced up at him and smiled as she watched him, then returned to her weaving. A few minutes later he looked up and gazed at her for a moment, then finished his studying. The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon in companionable silence.

…

The day of Hector's departure came soon enough and Andromache once again accompanied him to the docks. He held her hand as the men loaded and she leaned against him, enjoying his familiar presence. When the ships were finally full he turned to her. She tried to smile but failed miserably. He cleared his throat.

"I suppose you know that I won't be here for our anniversary," he told her.

She shrugged, trying not to make a big deal of it. "It's just another day."

"I would've liked to be here, though," he said and she smiled.

"It would've been nice," Andromache agreed. "Keep my city safe."

"I will, that's a promise," he told her softly. "No harm will come to Thebe."

"When will we receive news of the battle?" she asked him, glancing at Artrides who was waiting with his arm in a sling.

"We have a light ship that we send back to Troy ahead of the soldiers," he replied. "White sails means good news, black sails means bad."

"I'd better see white sails then," Andromache told him, smiling.

"You will," he promised. "That ship has never flown with black sails before and it's not about to start. If the battle goes well look for it a week or two after our anniversary, the army is usually only two weeks behind it."

A tear trickled down her cheek and he pulled her close. "I'll miss you," he said, rubbing her back.

"And I you," she replied, holding him tight. "Be safe, Hector."

"Hector!" Artrides rode up, interrupting them. Hector nodded and Andromache pulled back. He kissed her tenderly and mounted his horse, turning back to look at her.

"No more than four months," he promised.

She smiled. "I'll be waiting."

"I know," he said. He quickly boarded the ship and she gazed at him as he issued the order. Hector then locked eyes with her and she watched, long after he'd vanished into a tiny speck.

She finally left to return to the palace and felt her spirits sink even lower as she entered their quarters. It was strangely quiet and felt as though it belonged to another, and not to herself. She walked into their bedroom and gazed around. Everything was in place, just as they'd left it, but something was missing.

And she knew what that something was.