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The following morning, Andromache woke up just as dawn's light was beginning to creep over the sky. She heard a noise and went out to the balcony to investigate. Scanning the area below, she saw Cassandra creeping through the gardens, covered in a dark cloak. Her face wasn't visible, but the gracefulness by which she moved belied her identity. Andromache watched as she crept towards the stable and rode through the streets, heading for the main gate. She watched as she passed out of view, finally realizing Cassandra's destination.
Apollo's temple, she thought, nodding. That had always been her safe-haven, she always went there to be alone. Briseis had gotten her passion for serving Apollo from Cassandra, almost as though Cassandra wished Briseis to lead the life she couldn't. Pity she can't be a priestess, Andromache mused. She would have been the most faithful servant the gods would ever have.
She went back into the room, glancing at her husband who was still sleeping. Quickly dressing, she crept through the halls to the women's quarters, knowing Briseis would be awake. She was, and she was waiting for Andromache.
"You saw her leave?" Briseis asked.
Andromache nodded. "That is the best place for her."
"Perhaps Apollo will grant her prayers," Briseis sighed, "and strike down those men in their beds."
"As far as I know, they haven't offended him," Andromache replied, sitting down next to her. "Though that would be nice."
"Did you speak with Hector?" Briseis asked cautiously.
Andromache nodded, her eyes darkening. "He refuses to do anything."
"Why?" Briseis asked helplessly. "We've no need for those alliances, Troy is strong without them. Besides that, we've never had a very good relationship with either of those cities."
"Hector said a long time ago that Priam wishes to pass the kingdom onto him with no wars looming. Perhaps this is just part of his quest for peace."
"He shouldn't do it at Cassandra's expense," Briseis said crossly. "Andromache?"
"Yes?"
"I was thinking," Briseis began hesitantly. "You know that I want to become a priestess."
"I was aware of that, yes," Andromache said, inwardly smiling.
"Perhaps-" she began. "Perhaps I could trade places with Cassandra."
Andromache smiled, her heart melting at this show of friendship. "Briseis, it's a kind and generous friend who'd be willing to do something like that, but it makes no difference."
"But I can marry!" Briseis cried. "And Cassandra could serve as a priestess, just as she's always wanted. I can't bear the thought of a man having her, especially not either of them."
Andromache shook her head. "I repeat, it makes no difference. You are too young and Priam would never consent to marry you off. Marriage at sixteen is frowned upon and he loves you too much to do that to you. Besides that, you're not his daughter, Briseis. Cassandra offers a closer relationship to Troy than you do, that's why you are allowed to choose your own path and she is not."
"But she wants to be a priestess even more than I do," Briseis said softly, tears in her eyes. "Her dream was to spend her life as a maiden, serving Apollo. She's the one who put me into such a passion for a life spent serving the gods."
"I know," Andromache said just as softly, pulling Briseis into a hug. "But you cannot trade places with her."
"Then what can we do?"
"Her only hope is if those men don't follow through with their courtship. Priam will set a bride price and if they refuse to match it then she will not be married."
"Priam could lower the price," Briseis pointed out. "If they refused to match his original offer."
Andromache shook her head. "This may be cruel, what he's doing to her, but he does love her. He will not so demean her as to lower her bride price. She is a princess of Troy- and a lovely, kind one at that- so the price will not be low. However, their cities are small so it's debatable if they'll even choose to match the price. It would be a fair stretch for them to afford her."
"And their city will be so poor after the wedding that she'll have to live in a shack," Briseis said angrily. "After living here in Troy, that would be worse than death."
"It would be," Andromache mused quietly. And she'd rather take her own life than give herself to a man.
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Cassandra returned later that morning, offering no explanation to Andromache or Briseis, who in their turn demanded none. Tonight she would meet her two suitors, for they'd already been kept waiting and were growing impatient. Priam had wanted to present her to them the previous evening, but he graciously upheld Cassandra's request for that evening alone. So instead, she would make their acquaintance tonight and they would meet their possible future bride.
That afternoon Andromache and Briseis helped her get ready, sending the servants away and kindly performing the tasks themselves, so Cassandra would feel more comfortable. After the bath, Briseis brought her a nice gown that she would wear during the meal. She put it on and Andromache began to style her hair, while Briseis watched.
"Perhaps if we made you look ugly they won't wish to marry you," she suggested helpfully, and Andromache raised her eyes questioningly at Cassandra.
"It will be difficult," Andromache admitted, "but I'll do my best."
Cassandra laughed, a pleasant laugh that sounded odd to Andromache. She hadn't expected her to be so cheerful. "Thank you, but no. Make me look nice, if you please."
"You are happy?" Andromache asked softly as she curled Cassandra's hair.
"I am not unhappy," she replied, motioning for Briseis to come closer. "Enjoy yourselves this evening, and do not fear for me. This will all come to nothing."
"What do you mean?" Briseis asked, puzzled.
"I will not marry either of them; it will come to nothing," Cassandra repeated firmly.
"You aren't planning anything drastic, are you?" Andromache asked with apprehension.
Cassandra shook her head, smiling. "No, I just happened to go to Apollo's temple this morning."
Briseis and Andromache both had a perplexed look on their face, then a light dawned on Briseis's. "You had a vision?"
Cassandra nodded, a faraway look coming into her eyes. "I did," she murmured softly, her eyes becoming sad. Then the look vanished a second later and she smiled at them. "And do not worry, I will not marry either of them."
"You're sure?" Andromache asked shrewdly, seeing the sadness.
Cassandra nodded. "I am."
The two of them smiled, relieved, but as Andromache prepared herself for the feast that night, she couldn't feel completely happy.
That look had bothered her.