Upon their return, they were greeted warmly by the royal family and quickly settled into their regular routine. Winter came and went, and before they knew it, spring had returned. Of course, the winter was never really cold, but it was nice to see the trees blooming and the flowers blossoming.
Springtime marked the beginning of another campaign. By treaty, Troy controlled access to the Hellespont, a small channel leading the Black Sea. It was through this channel that ships had to pass in order to trade with the cities in the Far East. Priam demanded a tax on every large ship that passed through, but other small cities were now also demanding taxes. Merchants were getting annoyed, because now they had to pay twice the amount, and Priam was angered. He notified Hector to prepare the army, which Hector did with reluctance.
"It will be short," he promised his wife late one night.
"You said that last time, and you didn't return for six months," she replied miserably.
"I promise you, no such thing will happen. We'll only subdue the three cities, they are small and not well fortified. I shall return within three months."
She rolled over, angry at his departure. Andromache knew it was unfair to blame him, but she didn't care. She was tired of his leaving, tired of having to say goodbye so many times.
Hector sighed; he knew she was angry. "What would you have me do?"
"Stay behind," she replied sharply. "There is no need for you to command the army. Artrides can do it just as well, or Tecton."
"I'm their leader, I must go."
Andromache was silent for a moment, thinking. "Then grant me one favor."
"Anything, love."
"Return on the messenger ship."
Hector was quiet, thinking. "As you wish, then. I'll return ahead of the army."
She rolled back over to face him, a slight smile on her face. "Thank you."
He kissed her nose tenderly. "Anything to make you happy."
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Their parting was sorrowful, but Andromache cheered herself with the knowledge that Hector would return early. Her spirits remained happy and she kept herself busy, a task which Briseis gladly aided her in. It was one afternoon- a little over two months later- that she happened to be visiting Maira.
It had been a few months since they'd last seen each other, and the two embraced warmly. "You look so healthy!" Andromache exclaimed.
Maira's cheeks were rosy, albeit a little plumper. She was currently pregnant with their fourth child. She'd born three sons to Diocus already, much to the neighborhood's surprise, and she couldn't have been happier, though she secretly confided to Andromache that she wished for a girl this time.
"Just one, and then we can go back to having sons," she said, grinning.
Andromache laughed, holding Maira's third son, barely a year old, on her lap. "It must be wonderful."
Maira's eyes softened. "Your time will come."
"I know," Andromache admitted. "I have a promise on that account. I just wish it would come soon."
"The gods' timing is the best," Maira said confidently.
"My lady," Niobe peaked around the corner into the courtyard where the two women were chatting. "The people are running to the shores. Prince Hector has returned."
Andromache handed the baby to Maira and ran over to her handmaiden excitedly. "I'll visit again soon, Maira!" she called out as the two women quickly departed. Andromache quickly arrived at the palace, waiting anxiously for the gates to open and Hector's form to appear.
He did not keep her waiting for long. Andromache smiled as his face appeared, but her happiness quickly faded when she saw the grave look on his face. A man stood beside him, and as Priam greeted him, Hector murmured something in his father's ear. Priam frowned and nodded, replying something that Andromache couldn't hear. He and the young man then left, and Hector came over to Andromache. He still bore a serious expression, but he smiled at the sight of her.
"Andromache," he embraced her warmly, kissing her on the lips. She returned the affection but pulled back after a moment.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head. "I must speak with Father." He saw Briseis and kissed her cheek. "Keep Andromache company, I've a meeting to attend."
Briseis smiled but her eyes were concerned. She nodded and Hector departed, just as quickly as he'd arrived.
"Briseis?" Andromache's voice trembled a bit.
Briseis was frowning. "I don't know."
Andromache glanced over at Hecuba, who was leaning close to an older girl. She was fervently whispering something and Andromache quickly pointed it out to Briseis. The two girls moved closer and Andromache caught the word "Thebe," but then Hecuba saw them and quickly silenced the girl.
"That's just servant's gossip," she said dismissively, then turned to the two girls. "Why don't the two of you take a stroll in the gardens?" She gave them a gentle push and Andromache left slowly, her mind in a whirlwind.
"Andromache, are you alright?" Briseis asked as they entered the peaceful surroundings of a small taste of nature enclosed in the palace walls.
Andromache nodded slowly, feeling very ill at ease. She was about to reply when she heard voices just ahead of them, talking unreservedly.
"I heard it from the Theban's own servant," said a voice. Andromache could just make out two figures through the trees, dressed in servants' robes.
"It can't be true, Thebe would've sent messengers calling for aid. The princesses' marriage assured them of that."
"There was no time, it was a surprise attack. Achilles and his Myrmidons took the city unexpectedly."
Andromache's heart leaped into her throat and for a moment she forgot to breath. The scenery around her started spinning and Briseis was looking at her in shock, but Andromache ignored all that. She focused on the two voices, still talking.
"Is the city taken?"
"Burned to the ground. They killed the men and took the women as slaves."
"And the princesses' family?"
"All dead. Achilles himself slaughtered them."
A sudden gasp from behind the trees startled them, and the servant girls glanced over to see who it was.
Andromache didn't even notice at them. Her mouth was open and she was gasping for air. Her lungs refused to function properly and her head was spinning. All dead, all dead, all dead. Her eyes darted back and forth as she tried to make sense of the words, but her heart refused to believe them. She was vaguely aware of Briseis calling her name and the servant girls darting forward. But the shock was too much.
Andromache collapsed to the ground in a dead faint.