Thank you all for your reviews. I'd like to issue a special thanks to Firien- I didn't get a chance in my last fic and I forgot to put it in the previous chapter- for your criticisms and suggestions, it's helping me improve my writing.
Anyways, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
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A few months later, Andromache, Briseis, and Cassandra were lounging in the women's quarters. The day was hot, with no breeze to cool the humid air that hung over Troy, and they were sprawled out, servants fanning them to keep them cool.
"This is the perfect day for a swim," Briseis suggested.
Cassandra shook her head. "None of the men will agree to take us, they're too busy with something," she said pointedly, glancing at the servants.
"Of course," Briseis agreed, smiling cheekily. "It was just a wish."
Andromache lifted a glass of wine to her lips, grimacing at the warm temperature it had acquired in the short time she'd had it. "This is disgusting."
"I hate days like this," Briseis complained.
A servant came in and cleared her throat to announce her presence. The three women looked at her.
"Prince Hector is waiting outside the doors to the women's quarters," she announced. "He requests to see you," she said, addressing Cassandra.
A puzzled look came onto her face but she stood up and followed the servant, shrugging back to her friends as they watched her, confused.
Briseis turned to Andromache. "Why would he want to see Cassandra?"
Andromache shrugged. "I've no idea. We'll find out in a minute, though, if we are meant to know."
"Perhaps he's angry with her," suggested Briseis.
Andromache laughed. "Why would he be angry with her?"
Briseis shrugged and continued guessing, but they soon found out the reason.
Cassandra walked in quietly and signaled for the servants to leave. When they had all departed, she turned to her friends, her eyes downcast.
"Father has opened up negotiations for my marriage," she said softly.
"What?!" the two women gasped simultaneously.
"Hector wished to inform me himself; so far only two have answered," she continued, paying no attention to their outburst. "The princes Othronus and Coroebus."
There was a stunned silence as the two took in this news, then Andromache finally spoke.
"Where do they dwell?" was the only question she could think to ask.
Cassandra shrugged, seemingly listless. "Up north; I paid no attention to what Hector was saying."
"They can't," Briseis burst out, her face a storm of emotions. "You must have some say in it!"
Cassandra sat down helplessly, looking miserable. Briseis continued raving and Andromache tried to silence her. Anger wouldn't help Cassandra now.
"Briseis, go speak to Hector about this," Andromache commanded. Briseis heartily agreed with this suggestion and marched off to find her cousin, screaming at an unlucky servant who happened to get in the way.
Andromache sat down next to Cassandra and took her hands between her own. "Are you sure?"
Cassandra laughed, a mocking laughed that chilled Andromache to the bone. "They would not jest about this."
"There is nothing you can do?" Andromache said helplessly.
Cassandra shook her head, her eyes smoldering. "I am to be bargained off for the sake of alliances- not that we need any," she added sarcastically. "You made sure of that."
"Then there's no need for your marriage!" Andromache cried out. "Troy has alliances already, and they can wait a few years for Polyxena or Laodice."
"Father wishes for peace," Cassandra said. "And I am just a tool for that goal."
"You can't marry one of them, Cassandra!" Andromache burst out angrily. "It's one thing for me to leave my family, for you it's entirely different. They were right when they said I'd be happy, but you won't be. You can't allow it!"
"Andromache, there's nothing I can do," Cassandra said coolly, standing up. "My reputation is known, Father most likely considers himself fortunate to even receive these two offers of marriage. It's a chance to get rid of me; my prophecies have never sat well with him. Now if you'll excuse me, I wish to be alone right now." She left quietly and returned to her room while Andromache sat there, stunned at this harsh treatment.
Briseis soon stormed back in and stopped in her tracks when she saw Andromache was alone. "Where is Cassandra?" she demanded.
Andromache shook her head. "She's grieving, leave her be. She wishes to be alone right now."
Briseis sat down next to her. "I talked to Hector."
"And?" Andromache knew what the answer would be.
"He says he can do nothing, that life is like that," Briseis burst out angrily. "But he can do something, Priam always listens to him."
Andromache nodded, Briseis was right and she knew it. "Yes, he can do something," she agreed, her eyes smoldering.
"I won't let them," Briseis announced. "I've seen both of them, Coroebus is at least ten years older than her and Othronus has hairy arms. She can't marry either of them, they wouldn't make her happy."
Andromache nodded, thinking. Briseis noticed this and stopped her raving.
"What are your thoughts?" she asked, quieting down.
Andromache shook her head. "I must think for awhile, I'll be in my room if Cassandra needs me. Don't worry, we'll think of something," she promised. She left and quickly made her way back to her bedchamber, signaling all the servants to leave her. After pacing the balcony restlessly, she made up her mind. Quickly arranging her hair she made her way to the public area of the palace, stopping a servant to inquire as to where Cassandra's suitors were.
"In the gardens, princess, with the king and Prince Hector," the servant replied, bowing. She thanked him and continued on her way, weaving around the paths until she heard voices.
"We are honored by your proposals," Priam was saying to them. Andromache quickly hid behind a bush and peered at them from between the branches. What she saw made her wince. Briseis was right, Coroebus was too old and Othronus' arms were unusually hairy. Besides that, both of them had a dull look in their eyes. Cassandra deserves better than that, Andromache thought angrily. King Priam continued. "Prince Hector will show you to your rooms, tonight I shall bring Cassandra to meet with you and tomorrow we may start our negotiations." Andromache quickly retreated from her hiding spot, returning to her room. She spent the rest of the afternoon pacing on the balcony, thinking of how she might aid Cassandra.
Night fell and a slight breeze came to stir the stuffy air and cool the city. Andromache gazed out at the torches lit in the streets, the moonlight playing on the water, and felt her heart melting. She'd left Thebe to make her home here, in the most beautiful city in the world. Cassandra would have to leave this beautiful city for a strange town, situated up north where the landscape wasn't as pretty nor the weather so pleasant. It will break her heart, Andromache thought, her heart sinking. She heard the door creak open and at once, all the anger boiled up inside of her.
Hector joined her on the balcony, apparently clueless as to her feelings. "Pretty night," he said, gazing out at the city.
"Especially if it's one of your last," Andromache snapped at him.
He turned to her. "Not you too, I've already had to deal with Briseis."
"Don't speak to me like that, of course you'll have to deal with me," she hissed at him. "You are shipping your sister off to live with some stranger?! She is happy here, there's no need for her to marry someone, Troy has alliances, and if you must marry someone off then make it someone else besides her! She is not your property!" Andromache finished, drawing in a breath.
"Andromache, I told you before-" he began.
"Extinguish the torches when you come in, I'm going to sleep," she snapped at him, quickly undressing and drawing the curtains around the bed.
"Andromache," she heard him call out from across the room.
"As you just said, you've told me before," she said sweetly, inwardly loathing him at the moment. "I've no wish to hear it again."
"Then you understand my point," he drew back the curtains and looked down at her.
"You have no point, Hector," she said coolly. "You only think you do. And as I said, I'm going to bed, my lord, so either shut the curtains or extinguish the torches."
He glared at her but let the curtains fall back down, surrounding the bed. Andromache heard him move around for awhile, then saw the light diminish as he extinguished the torches. The bed sunk down as he lay on it and she scooted over to the very edge, desiring to be as far from him as possible.
"Good night, Andromache," he said patiently.
"It's not good, is it?" she said pointedly. "And I've no desire to speak with you, so either silence your mouth- which doesn't seem to have anything important to say- or leave."
Hector drew in a sharp breath, trying to overcome the urge to shake her. She's upset, he reminded himself forcefully. Show patience.
"I'll talk to you in the morning," he said firmly, rolling over and closing his eyes.
"You may talk all you want, I'm done listening," she replied coolly.
Hector clenched his fist and courageously kept control of his temper. Fine, he thought angrily. If that's the way you want to do it, then so be it. He scooted over the edge of his bed, making the gap between them as wide as possible. Two can play at this game. They both laid awake for hours, each one furious at the other. Finally they drifted off to sleep, ready to awaken for round two.