3. Farewell to Thebes.

Hector watched as the ship was loaded, noting everything. Tutors had always told him that he had the eyes of an eagle and the ears of a fox. Supplies, chests, crates and barrels; food and water and wine for the two week voyage back to Troy, back home. Coffers full of dresses and robes and trinkets of Andromache were loaded on next. He hadn't seen her for the morning; but then again, he wasn't really surprised at it. This was her last day at home, with her family. He didn't expect to see her until the moment they embarked on their voyage. The days after the Banquet had been strained and tiresome. He felt responsible for her unhappiness whether it was actually his fault or not and she was wrapped in her grief and fear.

'Stop being ridiculous. How could it possibly be your fault?'

'Does it matter? Either way she will be forced to leave her home because she is marrying me.'

'You didn't choose her, your father did. And her father allowed it. You are a servant to your title as much as she is.'

'Yes but she is leaving her life behind, I am not.'

'Well in a way you are. You'll have your husbandry duties.'

'Yes as well as the hundreds of other cursed ones I already have.'

'Stop that!'

"Prince Hector." The captain said coming up to him.

"Yes?"

"We are ready to leave. Shall I send word for the Princess?" Just then Hector saw her, coming with her family and no doubt one of her ladies in waiting. She wore a dress of pale blue with a jeweled belt below her breast and her hair was loose.

"She's already here. Prepare to set sail." Hector ordered. He watched as her father hugged and kissed her goodbye and his heart twinged with compassion. "Eliod." he added stopping him.

"Yes my lord?"

"Go slowly. Give her enough time to say good bye."

"Yes my lord." Eliod replied walking away to carry out his orders. Hector walked up to her as she hugged Arimedes tightly, her face buried in his chest. He nodded to him and Hector smiled back a little before he laid his cheek on his sister's head rubbing her back lovingly. It hurt his heart to let her go but he knew that he had no choice. She seemed so tiny and vulnerable now, so lost and terrified, she seemed more his little sister now than ever before.

"Be strong Andromache, it will be all right." He whispered to her.

"It will never be all right." She replied to him.

"Shh... That isn't true and you know it. He's a good man, he will love you."

"I don't want his love. I want to stay with you." She said looking up to him imploringly. "Let me stay. Please let me stay." She begged. He smiled sadly and pressed a warm kiss to her forehead.

"You know that I cannot." He whispered against her brow and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly. He gave her one last squeeze and then released her.

"Prince Hector." Eetion said smiling.

"King Eetion, Queen," he said nodding to Ariana. "It is almost time to leave." She smiled back sadly. She understood that he didn't want to cause Andromache any pain. Ariana came up to Andromache and drew her close.

"My darling." She whispered as Andromache clung to her seeking comfort.

"Mother I don't want to go." She said and Ariana pulled away cupping her face in her hands.

"You must. I felt the same way when your father came for me. I cried for months, before I allowed myself to see him for who he was. Prince Hector is a good man Droma. You need not fear him."

"I'm not afraid."

"Yes you are. So was I. But look at how well it turned out for me." Andromache closed her eyes and cried and Ariana drew her head down to her breast. "Come my darling, my Droma, don't cry, do not cry." She crooned stroking her daughter's hair. Hector glanced over at the ship and saw that it was time.

"My lady, it is time to go. I'm sorry I gave you all the time I could." He said to Ariana. She nodded and raised her daughter's head.

"It's fine Prince Hector. Droma." She said to her daughter who stared at her pleadingly.

"No, I won't go." She begged shaking her head adamantly, her face wet with tears.

"You have to my dove." She kissed her cheeks tenderly and held her close one last time. "Be strong my dove, be strong. It will be all right, Droma." She released her and brushed her hair back from her face, not fighting her tears. "Go now. Go." Hector took Andromache's arm gently and led her to the ship, all the while with her looking back at her family.

"Don't look back." He said to her and she looked up at him. "It only makes it harder." She bit her lip and nodded, momentarily docile in her grief. They boarded and the ship weighed anchor, taking off. Hector sat her down on the deck and walked off not knowing what to say to her or do with her. He felt terrible for taking her away and wished only for a moment that he could have left her there and still have married her somehow. Suddenly a cry sounded, followed by a splash and he spun around.

"My lord the Princess!!" Eliod shouted pointing to the starboard side of the ship. Hector ran over his eyes wide with terror and shock at what he saw. Andromache had leapt over board and was trying to swim back to shore, back to Thebes.

"By the Gods, she wants to die." A sailor shouted. Hector dove in, and swimming with all his might tried to catch up.

"My lord!" Eliod cried in alarm.

"Andromache!" he shouted, but she kept swimming. "Andromache come back!" She was an excellent swimmer but he was stronger, and better so he caught up quickly, dodging her kicking legs, trying to stop her. She fought back like a wild cat shoving at him, scratching with her nails, punching with her fists even as she sobbed.

"Let me go." She cried.

"Andromache-" he tried.

"Mother!" she screamed, dislodging herself and starting off again. He gripped her arms and yanked her back forcefully.

"It's too late!"

"Let me go back! Stop it!" she kicked him in the shin surprisingly hard and punched him in the face. Angry now, he grabbed her wrists roughly in one hand shaking her hard.

"You can't go back it's too late." He snapped. "Come on."

"No!" he started swimming back and she kicked him in the side trying to pull away but he held fast. They sank from her struggles and he fought to keep their heads above water. She still fought, not caring, and they fought each other for awhile before he lost his patience with her and snapped.

"STOP IT!!" he bellowed yanking her back hard, his hands bruising her, shaking her so hard her head snapped back. "Stop it you'll kill us both."

"Let me go." He trapped her against him and she cried out trying to break free. "Andromache it's over. It's too late, you'll die before you reach the docks." He said.

"Mother!" she called out, choking on the salt water. "Mother!"

"Andromache-" She shook her head shaking with tears her eyes wide with grief and desperation.

"Arimedes! Euklides! Father!"

"You can't go back. Come with me."

"No." she choked out, "Let me go, please let me go."

"If I let you go you'll die."

"Take me back." She begged, "Please take me back." He stared at her silently, treading water. She was shuddering with cold, he needed to get her back into the boat; she would make herself sick if she stayed here any longer. He glanced back and saw that Eliod had already brought the ship around to them and was getting ready to throw a rope over board for them.

"Will you get on the ship if I take you back?" he asked. She nodded, shuddering violently. "Fine. I'll take you back. Come on now." She allowed him to take her hand and they swam the short distance to the boat. Hector grabbed the rope wrapped it around his fist and banded his arm around her waist. The men on the boat pulled and heaved and they shot out of the water and landed on the deck safely. She fell to her knees coughing and sputtering and Hector leaned over, his hands on his knees, staring at her. Her hair hung in wet ropes about her torso and her dress was soaked and clung to her body and her eyes were on him, waiting. He glanced at the rowers who were staring at her without guile and a wave of possessiveness hit him like nothing before. "Get back to your rowing." He barked, exertion making his voice even rougher than usual. Eliod came over to him awaiting his orders. Hector looked at him and then looked back over at her as she rose shakily to her feet staring at him, waiting for the words of her salvation. "Mentain the course for Troy." He said.

"You lying sack of wine!" Andromache screamed. "You bastard, you said you'd take me back!" She launched herself at him; half blinded with tears and anger trying to punch and scratch any part of him that she could reach. He over powered her easily by simply grabbing her wrists and twisting her arms.

"Calm yourself down." He snapped as she fought for freedom.

"Take your hands off me!" she spat out. He simply flung her over his shoulder and took her below decks to his chambers. She kicked and screamed but to no avail, he was simply too strong for her. He took her to his bed and plopped her down. She landed hard, glaring up at him as she rubbed her wrists. "You promised me." She said, her eyes hot with accusation.

"I promised nothing." He replied before throwing her a towel. "Dry yourself." He said before getting one for himself, trying not to grind his teeth instead busying himself with the task of rooting up a dry gown for her. "When you're done put this on, and dry your hair-"

"I know what to do. I'm not an idiot." She snapped. He shook his head and closed his eyes praying (not for the first time in his life between her and Parris) for patience, before starting to dry himself off, turning his back on her before he did her bodily harm. "You lied." She repeated.

"Of course I lied." He snapped. "What else was I to do? You would have killed yourself if I didn't, with your stupidity and your damned fear and pride. Besides, I never gave you my word on it, if you recall." He tossed a plain white gown to her and it landed beside her. She flipped a section of hair over her shoulder and took it up, twisting it in her hands.

"Go, I need my privacy." He stared at her for a moment, her chin raised in defiance her eyes flashing, even soaking wet she maintained her dignity. He wanted to throttle her, truly throttle her, the way he would love to do to Parris one of these days. He had a brief mental picture of him doing just that, with her body flopping about like a fish and had a moment of grim, if imaginary satisfaction.

"You have five minutes. I'm not about to get sick because of your momentary lapse of sanity." He replied before stalking back up the stairs.

"I hate you." She whispered fiercely. He paused and turned back to look at her and was a bit disheartened to see tears in her eyes.

"You are intitled. Five minutes." He replied before leaving her alone.