Just as a note, school has started so updates won't be as frequent. And this story has a few more chapters (this one and two others) and that's it. I'll be tying up loose ends in the next two chapters, and then the last one will be the ending. And a warning, this chapter will hop around a bit. Not in months or anything, just in terms of days (it'll cover about a week or so.) Anyways, here you go, enjoy!

Astyanax grinned up at his aunt while drool dribbled down his chin. Polyxena laughed as she grabbed a cloth to wipe his face with.

"He's grown so much!" she exclaimed to Andromache, who was reclining on a couch nearby. She'd broken the rules and brought a male into the women's quarters, and the four of them were spending the afternoon together. Briseis had a day off from her studies- which were almost to an end- and Laodice was content to let her cousin braid her hair.

"After Briseis finishes it's my turn," Laodice announced to everyone.

"Just be careful that he doesn't pull these braids out," Briseis warned her. "I've spent too much time on them for a baby- even if he is Astyanax- to undo them."

"She's almost done, Laodice," Polyxena said, studying her sister's new hairstyle. "I must say, it becomes you very well."

"It should be you sitting here," Laodice grinned up at her sister, whose own locks were bunched in Astyanax's fist. "After all, you must make a good impression on our visitors."

"They might not arrive for days," Andromache protested.

"According to Father, Prince Tydios is always very punctual," Laodice informed her.

"It seems as though just yesterday Cassandra was sitting with the two of you in this very room and sending you off to bed with your nurse." Andromache smiled and shook her head.

"I still remember that night," Polyxena said, grinning.

"As do I," Laodice interjected.

"You were only six at the time," Andromache replied, looking a bit surprised.

"But it was the first time we ever set eyes on Hector's bride," she answered, grinning. "I remember it clearly, you looked beautiful all decked out in your jewels for the feast."

Briseis smiled. "She removed them soon after the two of you left," she said, winking at her friend. "We informed her they might be a bit… cumbersome."

Andromache grinned at what Briseis was referring to. "And they were very right in their information."

Laodice gazed shrewdly at them. "What happened that night?"

Andromache laughed. "Nothing the two of you need to be informed of."

"And there we are," Briseis said, finishing the last braid. "Polyxena, your turn."

Polyxena handed Astyanax to Laodice- who took him readily- and obediently sat down in front of her cousin. "I'm going to style yours a little differently. Yours are going to be a bit smaller, made to style with an elegant dress for the feast that will be happening soon."

"What of when my hair is not done up?"

"These braids can also be worn loosely, that's why I chose it."

The four women and Astyanax spent the afternoon amicably together. He enjoyed all the attention he was receiving from his aunts and Andromache was pleased with the small respite she was enjoying. Polyxena's hair was soon finished and they moved into one of the gardens to enjoy the cool shade in the hottest part of the afternoon.

"I wonder what he's like," Polyxena mused, plucking a flower from a nearby tree and tickling Astyanax's nose with it, smiling as he gurgled and snuggled deeper into Briseis's arms. Laodice leaned back against her sister, letting her head rest on Polyxena's legs.

"It's too soon," she murmured softly.

Polyxena nodded and absentmindedly twisted a strand of Laodice's hair around her fingers. "I don't feel ready."

Andromache smiled sadly. "You'll make a good wife, Polyxena, you've no account to fear of that. You can manage a household well and you know what is to be expected of you. He'll be pleased with you."

"Yes, I know all that," the young maiden replied. "And I know I'll make a good wife. But I don't feel ready."

"Few women ever do," Andromache answered, standing up. Briseis followed suit and the two of them quietly slipped away, kindly allowing the two sisters time alone.

"What will I do without you?" Laodice murmured.

"And what will I do without you?" Polyxena answered. "In a strange palace in a faraway land."

"I don't think I'll like him," Laodice mused. "Have you ever met him?"

Polyxena shook her head. "I only glimpsed him once, from far away. The marriage negotiations were completed without our meeting. Business called him away suddenly, which is why we've never spoken."

"I don't want to lose you," Laodice said miserably, sitting up and staring her sister in the face.

Polyxena smiled shakily, tears starting in her eyes. "Nor I you. I never thought this day would actually come."

"You're too young."

"It seems as though it was just yesterday Mother would come into our rooms to tuck us into bed."

"Are you frightened?"

"Of leaving you."

Laodice smiled sadly and opened her mouth to speak when the two were interrupted. Briseis poked her head in through the trees. "They've arrived."

Laodice climbed to her feet and pulled her sister up with her. "You look beautiful."

It was indeed true. Neither of them possessed Cassandra's beauty, though they resembled her, but Polyxena looked very becoming with her hair done in small braids ending in ringlets. Her maiden's dress set off her figure very well and her face was the picture of calm.

They quickly made their way into the hall where Priam was speaking with the newly arrived visitors. Prince Tydios was laughing at something the king was saying and there was a man standing next to him whom neither of the girls recognized.

"Ah, my dear!" Priam exclaimed, pulling her over to him. Laodice stood slightly back from the party, off to the side. "Prince Tydios, may I present my daughter and your future bride, Princess Polyxena."

"It is my honor to finally behold you, princess," he responded graciously.

"And this is my youngest daughter, Princess Laodice," Priam said, noticing her. She smiled and nodded to the two men.

"Allow me to present my brother, Isidio," the prince said, smiling at the two maidens. "I told him that Troy is a sight not to be missed."

Polyxena smiled modestly and murmured something appropriate, then excused herself as soon as she was able. She and Laodice hurried back to the women's quarters and spent the rest of the day talking of the new arrivals.

Three days later, Andromache went in search of Polyxena and Laodice. Hector had offered to take the princes Tydios and Isidio on an outing outside the walls, and he'd wondered if the two would like to accompany them. A servant informed her that the Polyxena's whereabouts were unknown, but that Laodice was in the garden. Andromache set off in the said direction, arriving soon but then pausing abruptly. This was one of the larger gardens; it would be a little more difficult to find her.

She wandered around for awhile, unable to locate anyone, and was about to give up when soft voices caught her attention.

"Do you often travel?" came Laodice's quiet voice, unusually hushed. Andromache narrowed her eyes and crept towards the soft murmur coming from a nearby area surrounded by flowers.

"Only occasionally. And you?" Andromache recognized the speaker to be Isidio.

"I've never left Troy," came the honest reply.

"And your sister?"

"She has dwelt here her whole life."

"Do you resent us for taking her away?"

"I was going to, but I'm finding that increasingly difficult."

Andromache peered cautiously through the flowers, her eyes widening when she glimpsed the two of them. They were sitting on the grown and Isidio was gently holding Laodice's hand in his own. Unless a couple was engaged, it was improper for them to be having secret liaisons. Come to think of it, even if they were engaged it was frowned upon, especially for a princess to engage in such behavior. Andromache was going to break up the meeting but a burning desire to hear their conversation stopped her.

"How is it that if you've never left Troy, men come to seek your hand?" Isidio asked her.

"Father arranges it for political reasons," Laodice replied, shrugging. "We've no say in the matter."

"Do you resent it?"

"It is our duty to Troy."

Isidio shook his head. "I could never imagine not having a choice as to who I should marry. Is it difficult?"

"We've known our entire lives it would be such," Laodice said, looking slightly confused.

"Are you promised?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm not of marriageable age. Polyxena's older than is normal, here we usually marry at around the age of eighteen."

"Have the two of you always been close?"

She nodded fervently. "We've four years between us, but it never mattered. I see it is the same with you and your brother."

"True, we are also four years apart. But we're not as close as the two of you seem to appear."

"It's different with men," she said knowingly. "Women have more rules, and therefore they must socialize with each other more. Men are free to live separate lives."

"Do you resent it?"

She shook her head. "We develop friendships few will ever experience. I couldn't resent that."

Andromache silently withdrew, her mind whirling. She hurried back to their quarters; it was time to feed Astyanax. Hector was there, holding him in his arms. "Did you find Laodice?"

For the briefest moment, Andromache hesitated. Then she shook her head. "No, you'll have to go without them."

Hector gave her a shrewd glance but passed Astyanax to her wordlessly. "I'll go find the princes, then."

She nodded and received a kiss from him, then sat down to nurse her baby.

She'd never outright lied to Hector before, but she wasn't sure how he would react. As Laodice's role model, she should condemn her actions, but something inside Andromache rebelled at the thought. An idea was beginning to take root in her head, though it was as crazy as it was impossible. Andromache knew of the anguish the girls would experience at being separated. Perhaps… but no, it was impossible. Marriages were not agreed upon based on a few days time. And Laodice was still a full two years of being ready for marriage. At sixteen, it would be frowned upon. And for all they knew, Isidio's father might have plans for his youngest son. Or Priam might even have plans for Laodice that no one yet knew about.

"It cannot happen," Andromache informed her child.

But what if it could?

Two days passed and Andromache strode quickly towards the women's quarters, knowing that this early in the morning Laodice would still be there. Her assumption was not incorrect, she found the princess partaking of a light breakfast. Andromache cast a quick glance at her face, noting the bright eyes and the color in her cheeks.

"Polyxena leaves in two days," she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Laodice nodded warily. "Does it sit well with you?"

Laodice shrugged. "We knew this day would come."

"Do you resent the princes?" Andromache asked carelessly, though her mind was sharp and expectant.

Laodice shook her head. "I'm very pleased with Tydios; Polyxena will be happy with him."

Andromache smiled. "I, for one, am quite amused by his younger brother. We had the opportunity for talk a few days past, he was quite an engaging young man."

Laodice nodded, grinning. "He is. When we talked-" She broke off for a second as she realized her mistake, then quickly fixed it. "-in the throne room when they first arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by him."

"Although, I wonder if he isn't a bit forward," Andromache said lazily, watching Laodice out of the corner of her eye. "After all, when a man is going to take a bride, a younger brother doesn't usually accompany him."

"Oh no, I must disagree. I find him to be quite kind and considerate. He told me that Prince Tydios described the wonders of Troy and he couldn't resist seeing it himself."

"Well, I could be mistaken," Andromache said, patting her hand and rising to her feet. "I must go, Astyanax will be needing his morning feeding." She quickly left but did not immediately return to her room. Instead she opted for a stroll in the gardens, to clear her thoughts. She was hoping for solitude there, but instead was in for a surprise.

A pleasant surprise.

"Prince Tydios!" she exclaimed, stopping suddenly. "I had not expected to find you here at this hour."

"I am frequently an early riser, princess, and I must admit, I prefer to spend the time in solitude," he answered, smiling at her.

"Well, I hope you won't allow me to interrupt you," she said, moving to pass.

"Oh no, I didn't mean that," he hastily assured her. "I only meant away from duties and obligations."

She smiled. "I know exactly what you mean."

They walked and chatted for awhile, then Andromache cautiously broached the subject of the upcoming marriage. "Has your father had plans for your marriage for long?"

Tydios shook his head. "No, because of our isolation inland we do not need many allies. Our city is well fortified and modest- no other city threatens us- and so political marriages have never frequented my father's mind. The subject was brought up for the first time recently because he wishes for me to begin building a family, since he intends to pass the crown on before his death."

Andromache nodded. "I understand. It was the same for my brother, Arimedes. He married young as well."

"You are not from Troy?"

"No, I am the daughter of Eetion, ruler of the Thebe. Former ruler, I should say," she added, looking down.

"We were grieved to hear of Thebe's fall," Tydios said gravely. "But we did not know the king had a surviving child."

"Hector and I had been married years before it happened, so I was well out of harm's way."

"Stories of its fall reached even our distant ears. Your brothers fought bravely."

"They would," Andromache said, smiling sadly. "But if are to speak of brothers, may they be still living. Do you have any others?"

Tydios shook his head. "No, Isidio is my only brother. I've no sisters either. My mother's early passing and my father's disinclination to marry again prevented that."

Andromache treaded cautiously. "Then your father must have plans for your brother, seeing as you are such a small family."

"No, he is free to do as he wishes," Tydios said, shrugging. "My father is only concerned with my marriage. That is, I assume it is marriage you are speaking of?" He cast a shrewd glanced at her, but she only shrugged modestly and did not reply. "However, I believe Isidio has been contemplating matrimony as of late."

There was a pause, and Andromache had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "As of how lately?"

"Oh, for the past few days," came the lazy response. Andromache glanced up to see Tydios' eyes twinkling.

"Then you have noticed?"

"I know my brother too well not to. But I am surprised it has taken your attention."

"I have acted as mother figure to the both of them, Laodice especially. I would be a fool not to."

"Does Priam have any plans for her?"

"None that he's mentioned, but I can't see that he would. Troy has all the allies it needs, so her marriage wouldn't be of consequence."

"Shall I broach the subject?"

Andromache shook her head. "She's too young by two years."

Tydios frowned. "Ah, that does complicate things. It would have been the perfect solution."

Andromache nodded. "They've always been close."

Tydios suddenly turned to face her. "Well, my lady, I must be returning. But I beg that you'll speak of this to no one, I wish to dwell on it a bit more."

"Of course," Andromache said, watching him as he quickly left the gardens. She then realized how late in the morning it was and hurried back to their quarters.

"Where have you been?" Hector asked somewhat crossly, rocking Astyanax in his arms.

"In the gardens, I lost track of time," came the reply as she stripped off her cloak and took the baby from his arms. "I only needed a bit of solitude."

Hector gazed at her for a moment, noting her avoidance of his eyes. Something was occurring, but experience told him he'd get no answer for her. He threw on an outfit for court. "I'll just find out for myself then," he said to her, walking out the door.

"Good luck," she called after him.

"Thank you," came the shout from down the hallway.

Andromache shook her head, smiling. You'll need all the luck there is, my husband.