Chapter 11. An island in the sun.
Hector paced back and forth in his room. Again he had a serious problem. He should have thought of it but he had been so set on spending more time with her that he hadn't considered the whole clothes issue. He stared at the four tunic and skirt sets on his bed and chewed on his lip frantically. He had gotten relatively far in the past two hours; he had narrowed it down to four... but now he was stuck because he wasn't sure which would look best. Why did he even care?! He didn't! He'd just wear his customary dark blue embroidered with pale blue and white and leave it at that.
But what if she likes the red one better?
Who cares?
ME!!
Why?
I can't help it, her opinion counts.
He growled and shoved his hands through his hair again, probably the twentieth time in the last five minutes, which was possibly, very bad. His stomach was in knots. He wanted to scream, really scream, at the top of his lungs just to relieve some of the pressure in his chest. And what was wrong with him anyway, why had he kissed her last night? Now, all that he could think about was her taste, how warm her mouth was and the feel of her body against his. She was so slight and slender, so soft. She was so perfect to him... and now that he had had a taste of her he couldn't rest. He had to remember to be gentle and patient. He had to remember that he was still a maiden and that she didn't trust him completely...he needed to get dressed. He glanced at his bed again and then chewed on his thumb. Gods he hadn't done that since he was seventeen. This was ridiculous, he was the Crowned Prince of Troy, the Protector of his people and General of his army , men followed him, enemies trembled before him and... and he was going to be late... The white one was alright but he didn't particularly like white. He picked up a comb and started to untangle his hair. Zeus it was tangled! How the hell had it gotten this way?! A knock sounded on his door and he pulled on a loose robe.
"Come in." he said trying not to sound like the nervous wreck that he was. The door opened and Breseis and Parris walked in.
"Aren't you ready yet?" Parris asked staring at his brother who was still struggling with his hair.
"Hector your hair!!" Breseis cried and Hector, loosing his patience gave the comb a sharp yank. He winced, shards of pain shooting through his head and she shrieked making him start. "No, stop that, you'll make it worse!"
"I can't help it!" he cried. "It's too tangled!" Parris looked over to his bed and frowned thoughtfully as Breseis pushed Hector down onto a bench in front of a mirror, snatched the comb from his hand and began to deal with his hair.
"Honestly Hector you really are ridiculous sometimes." She muttered.
"The yellow one." Parris said and Hector turned and gave him a look that said Are you out of your flaming mind?! Breseis tapped him sharply on the head and he turned back around glaring at her before looking at his brother in the mirror.
"I am not wearing yellow Parris." He replied in an even tone that brooked no argument. Accept from Parris.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Why not?!" Hector cried, "I have never worn that ridiculous colour in my life and I don't plan on starting today."
"The golden tone will go well with your colouring." His brother insisted.
"Pick something else."
"Oooh aren't you rather bossy for someone who is in dire need of MY help."
"Parris." Hector said warningly and Parris rolled his eyes. Just then Breseis reached a particularly nasty knot in Hectors hair and he jerked and cursed.
"Sorry." she said and Hector just sighed. Parris continued to observe.
"What about the white one?" he asked.
I can't wear white Parris; we are going on a picnic it'll just get dirty- OW!! Breseis!"
"I'm sorry!" she cried wincing. He frowned at her and she grinned sheepishly. "I'm almost done." She said helpfully.
"What about the blue one?" Hector asked hopefully.
"You always wear blue Hector." Parris said.
"I think Hector looks nice in blue." Breseis supplied.
"Thank you Breseis-WOMAN!!" he bellowed suddenly. "For the love of the Gods what are you doing?!" This time she just got mad.
"Well it's hard to untangle hair as tangled as a briar patch. It's going to hurt when I try to untangle it." She snapped.
"Yeah, but just leave some hair on my head when you're done will you!" he shot back. "Why can't I just wear the blue one Parris?" he asked. "I look good in blue."
"Don't you look good in anything else?" Parris grumbled.
"Light blue."
"Very funny." He snapped.
"How about the beige?" Parris asked. Hector stared at him as if her had grown two heads.
"The what?"
"The beige one."
"Beige?" Hector asked incredulously.
"It's like the colour of the sand, honestly Hector!" Two head progressed to two heads, ten eyes and sixteen arms.
"Are you sue you aren't a woman Parris?" he asked a bit concerned.
"Oh shut up Hector." Parris snapped holding up the outfit. Hector shrugged and nodded.
"That's alright I guess." Parris rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine, wear the blue." He said. "But I still prefer the yellow."
"There I'm done!" Breseis said happily. Hector looked at his reflection and suddenly went pale. His hair was combed out and neat looking...it was also curled and pinned.
"What the hell did you do!!!" Hector all but screamed shooting up from the chair. Parris looked up from the bed grinning.
"What?" Breseis asked innocently. "It's the style everyone is doing it."
"Breseis it's curly enough already, that's the damn problem."
"It'll look nice." Parris said and Hector glared at him.
"If you want to live then for once in your life just shut up." He growled. Parris' eyes widened with alarm and a bit of hurt. "What the hell is wrong with the two of you?!" he exclaimed. "You with your damned beige and YOU!" he pointed at Breseis. "You curled my hair!"
"I thought that it would look good."
"I look like an imbecile!" Hector cried yanking at pins.
"I was just trying to help." She said.
"Well then don't, please." Hector snapped. A distant bell sounded and he cursed. "I'm late, again!" he said shoving his hands through his hair to get rid of most of the absurd curls before finally just giving up hope and tying back his hair with a leather band. He turned to face Breseis and the tears in her eyes stopped him cold. "Breseis." He started and she turned and ran off. "Damn..."he muttered looking over at his brother who was staring at him with hot accusation in his eyes. "Parris." He tried.
"You didn't have to yell at her." Parris said flatly.
"I didn't mean to." Hector replied.
"Didn't have to yell at me either."
"I said that I was sorry. I'm just so damned nervous, and I she curled my hair and I'm very, very late. Again." Hector tried to explain. "I wouldn't have yelled otherwise you know that."
"I do." Parris said sighing. "She'll be mad at you though. She hates it when you get mad at her."
"I know. I'll apologize to her tonight. But I have to go." He changed into the dark blue top and skirt, strapped on his sandals and headed out the door. He went into the kitchens and rounded up some fruit and cheese and bread and wine and stuffed them in a straw bag. Then he went off to meet Andromache. He knocked on the door and she opened it almost immediately a slightly peeved look on her face.
"Around five eh?" she asked.
"I'm so sorry but I had a slight problem and I got here as soon as I could. I'm sorry." He gushed, his eyes wide. "Please don't be mad." She took one look at his desperation and just smiled. She couldn't stay mad at him. And he looked so incredibly debonair with his long, dark, soft curls merely pulled back with a leather strap. It was the first time she had seen him like that and she enjoyed it very much.
"It's all right. I had a feeling that you would be late." She replied.
"You look pretty." He said and she laughed at his attempt to salvage himself. "Well you do."
"Thank you Hector." She replied. She really did look lovely. She wore a peplos of pale yellow linen and her hair was pinned up with small golden flowers to fall in a curled, dark, silken cascade down her back. She wore no jewelry or makeup but she still looked perfect to him. "You look remarkably handsome."
"I do?" he asked. She nodded. "Dark blue is undoubtedly your best colour." He smirked. "And I love your hair like that."
"I keep trying to tell Parris that but he insists on me trying new things." He replied. She raised her eyebrows.
"Parris consults you on your wardrobe?" she asked sweetly. He closed his eyes and winced, his ears rapidly turning crimson. "Um..." She laughed and shook her head falling even more in love with him by the second. "Normally he doesn't, but now I have someone to impress."
"Me?" she asked a bit surprised.
"Well yes." He replied. "Oh Gods don't tell me that you don't do the same, because if so, I really will die from embarrassment." He said. She laughed and shook her head.
"Oh I do, but being a wife or even a future wife it is expected of me to fuss over my appearance. I must reflect well upon my husband at all times. You on the other hand... you don't have to care."
"Well I wish someone had told me that a week ago." He replied and she laughed shaking her head. "I probably spent more time on my appearance than you did!"
"I find that hard to believe." She said. And image of Bresies' tear filled eyes flashed in his mind and he sobered immediately.
"What is it?" she asked all but feeling the change. "Bresies was helping me with my hair. It was very tangled. She was trying to help but she ended up curling my hair. She said it was the style but I looked ridiculous and I yelled at her. I made her cry." He said.
"Well that was stupid of you."
"Yes thank you for that input Andromache." He said glaring at her but she just smiled. "Parris is accustomed to my yelling and my temper but she isn't."
"I thought you said that you don't lose your temper normally." She stated.
"I know, I don't and that's the very damned thing, I wasn't even mad, not really. I was just nervous and frustrated because Parris was trying to make me wear yellow, no offense, and she kept on yanking on knots in my hair and that really hurt and I was late in collecting you and I was just really frazzled. I wasn't upset with her."
"But you hurt her feelings." She said.
"Yes I did and I cannot forgive me." He replied.
"It will be fine. Children can forgive most anything."
"Bresies has a tendency of holding a grudge."
"Hmmm. Well you'd better be really nice to her then." Andromache said. "She can be vengeful, or so Parris says."
"You have no idea." Hector replied. By this time they had reached the stables. His horse Hermes had already been saddled and made ready. "How well do you ride?" he asked latching on the basket to the horse.
"Very well. I've been riding since I could walk."
"Then you would want your own horse, yes?" he asked. She nodded and smiled sheepishly.
"I always want my own horse it's nothing personal." She replied.
"That's fine, I'll just get another one then." He replied. "I'll be back soon." She watched him walk away and pondered not for the first time on her extreme fortune. She had already made friends, her new family was kind and her husband was the best man in the world. He was amiable and loving, serious yet endearing and not just a little handsome. He cared about her, he truly did and he loved her, or at least he would. That was more than enough for her. When he re-emerged from the stables with a chestnut brown mare she couldn't help the smile that blossomed onto her face. Not just because of the horse, because it was a truly beautiful creature, but because of him. Not other man would have gone through the trouble and returned with a horse that she herself would have chosen if left to her own devices. He smiled back and she was reminded of that kiss that he had given to her the night before. She hadn't been able to sleep because of it. She had simply kept replaying it in her head over and over again feeling the butterflies in her stomach and the tripping of her heart beat. He was so careful with her, he had wanted to crush her against him and devour her but he hadn't although her pulse raced and her stomach coiled at the thought. How incredible would that have been? To feel his strong arms tight around her waist, his hands all over her back fisting into her hair, taking her mouth feverishly with his. She bushed hotly at her thoughts and looked down at her feet as he approached. "What is it?" he asked as he stopped a few inches before her.
"Nothing." She replied and he raised an eyebrow at that.
"You're blushing." He stated. Her cheeks burned even more at that and she ducked her head even lower.
"No I'm not." She replied. He chuckled and cradled her chin with his fingers raising her face up so he could see it.
"Liar." He whispered. She smirked and bit her lip, and then he gave her a soft, short, sweet kiss on the... forehead. She wanted to be disappointed but the gesture was equally lovely, giving her that same warm feeling in her gut. So she smiled and shrugged.
"So I was blushing. Big deal." She replied trying to salvage some dignity. He smirked. "What is her name?" she asked stroking the sleek coat.
"Kaia, it means 'earth'. She is Cassandra's second favorite horse and she rides and handles almost as well as Hermes over here." He said pressing a kiss on Hermes' nose.
"Almost as well?" she inquired cheekily.
"Almost as well." He replied. "Don't suppose you need help, do you?" he asked. She raised an eyebrow and swung up onto the saddle with the ease of a solider. "Right." He said launching up into his saddle. "Let's go then." She laughed and followed him out past the city walls and through the gates.
Once they had cleared them he picked up his pace, urging Hermes into a swift canter. She met the challenge seamlessly and he glanced over at her saw the sparkle in her eyes and then broke out into a full gallop. She sped up as well, matching his speed and skill grinning from ear to ear, her hair and dress billowing out behind her. They raced out to the beach and sped across the surf and all the way he heard her laughter ringing in his ears, lifting his heart. They rode up the dunes until they reached a hill covered in grass. There was a healthy sea breeze and much sun, and he slowed down glancing over at her.
"This is it." He said sliding from his saddle. He took the reigns to Kaia as she swung down from her stead and tied them to the ones for Hermes. She unstrapped the basket and rested it on the ground before sitting down next to it. Hector plopped down next to her and pulled out a blanket and started laying the food out on top of it. She tore off a piece of bread and started to eat as he poured wine for them both. He picked up an apple and bit off a hearty chunk. She smiled as she watched him chew. He had a decidedly very silly smile on his face as he gazed out at the ocean, and looked so damned happy that she felt her spirit lift just by looking at him. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes before turning his attention to her. His ears turned a slight pink and his eyes darted about slightly. "What?" he asked. She shook her head and looked down.
"Nothing." She replied. He quirked an eyebrow and continued to stare at her.
"That's not true." He replied. She looked up at him.
"I... you look so pleased and content. It makes me happy in turn." She replied. The flush of his cheeks darkened and he looked down at his hands. "Are you blushing?" she asked and his eyes shot up to her.
"No!" he cried. "Of course not... that's silly." He said taking more grapes. She nodded and grabbed some cherries. She had always liked cherries best. He almost got away with his blushing... but then he picked up a small knife and started to peel his grapes. She quirked an eyebrow and stared a small smile forming.
"Hector." He picked up another small bunch and started on them. He really was excellent at peeling them... Probably had lots of practice....
"Yes?"
"Are you sure that you aren't blushing?" she asked.
"Yes." He replied.
"Because you are peeling your grapes." She stated innocently. He looked up at her, not pausing, and frowned.
"No I'm not." He replied. Her smiled widened and her other eyebrow rose as well.
"Is that so?" she asked. He suddenly looked uncertain and glanced down at his plate, and then his cheeks got even darker at the sight of the grape skins.
"Um..." she laughed and in that moment he looked so adorable that she fell even more.
"All right, all right, fine so I was blushing."
"Am blushing." She corrected. He rolled his eyes and nodded.
"I am blushing." He grumbled. She smiled and scooted closer to press a kiss on his cheek.
"It's cute. I like it." She replied.
"You would." He muttered. Then he sighed and passed her the peeled grapes. She grinned and took them graciously popping one into her mouth with a grin. He stared at her sardonically and then shook his head. She laughed and ate some more.
"Why don't you like peeled grapes?" she asked.
"Because they feel slimy... like eyeballs." He groused.
"How do you know what eyeballs feel like?" she asked. The cute petulant look on his face disappeared and she remembered that he was a solider and the things that he had seen she could only dream about. "I'm sorry." She muttered.
"Don't." he said sharply. "Don't apologize. It was a fair question."
"I didn't mean to-"
"I know." He replied smiling slightly.
"It that why?" she asked. He stared at her silently for a moment as if in contemplation and then sighed.
"In a way. When I was little, Alyion and some other friends of mine had decided to pull a prank on me. They peeled about a hundred bunches of grapes and put me in a room. They covered my eyes with a scarf and then told me to find some dagger I think it was... anyway I couldn't see and I stuck my hand in this basin of peeled grapes and I almost passed out. They told me that it was eyeballs and I think that I screamed... I can't remember. I probably did I was about seven or eight I think. Parris hadn't been born yet so it must have been around then."
"So you think of that when you see peeled grapes?" she asked. He blushed again and glanced at her out of the corner of her eye.
"Yes. It's stupid but... I can't help it." He answered. She smiled and gave him a little hug.
"Don't tell anyone."
"I won't."
"What about you?" he asked. "Any irrational fears that I should know about?" She bit her lip and nodded.
"One. My mother had a friend once who got married."
"Is she no longer her friend?" he asked.
"She is dead." She replied. He blinked at that a bit shocked.
"How?" He asked.
"I had known her before she'd gotten married. She was so placid, so gentle warm and loving. Then she met this man who claimed to love her. He wooed her and bedded her married her. Then he changed. She changed. She was so afraid all the time, she didn't come to visit anymore. She was always bruised. Her eyes were always red. If you had seen her you would have known that she had been crying. That something was terribly wrong. She became pregnant about three times and each time she miscarried. Not because she was infertile, but because he would beat her with anything, everything what ever was available. Everyone was afraid of him. Sometimes mother would go to her when he was away, to take care of her to comfort her and she would cry and cry and cry for hours. Then one day he beat her to death. He had been drunk, she had tried to get away. I learned then to fear marriage." He stared at the food on his plate and felt sick.
"How old were you?" he asked quietly.
"Ten." She replied.
"How old was she?"
"Twenty one." She replied. Rage filled him. Twenty one? She was no more than a child, barely older than Parris or Andromache herself! What kind of a monster would beat a woman at all let alone to death?!
"That's why you were so afraid of me. That's why you tried to run away." He said bleakly.
"Yes." she replied.
"That and the way you looked. You were so tall, dark and strong. You looked mean and cold, you reminded he of Hades, what he must look like."
"Hades?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes, and then you wore black at dinner." He winced.
"Right. Probably didn't help much."
"No it surely didn't."
"And then I bruised you. Gods you must have been terrified!" He exclaimed in shock. "I never thought of it."
"It's all right. I know who you are now. You aren't like him. Or Hades for that matter." She said. "You are a very good man. Full of humor and integrity and honor and love and gentleness-"
"You can stop now." He grumbled and she suddenly remembered his dislike for complements.
"Sorry. But he was a... demon at his best. A demon with a black heart."
"Thank you. It means everything that you don't think that of me. Men like that... they shouldn't be allowed to live."
"Well that's something else that we agree on." She replied and ate another cherry. "Hector?"
"Yes?"
"Promise that when we have children our girls won't be married off to some brigand."
"That I can definitely promise you." He replied. She smiled and tore off a hunk of bread and cheese. They passed the next hour in easy companionship. Sometimes they talked, sometimes they were silent but always, always they were at peace, comfortable. He found her mind to be one of the most interesting and enthralling things about her and she in turn found his big heart and peaceful nature to be one of the most beautiful things about him. She couldn't understand how a man so made for peace, for loving and healing, made for sharing and creating life could be the one of the most lethal warrior in the world, and lead such a mighty army. She could see him with his first born son, holding, cradling him in his strong arms smiling down on him finally happy, truly happy while she sat near by nursing their newborn girl. That was what he was made for, teaching, fathering, not fighting and killing. But she would make sure to be there for him when he returned from his weary travels. She would be there to comfort and cure his ailing soul. She could think of no better life, than one spent by his side. The sunset found them with her head in his lap as he fed her peeled grapes and told her stories to make her laugh. He truly loved her laugh. It was the most exhilarating sound in the world. It made him believe that flight was really possible, it made him yearn to throw back his head and scream just to relieve the pressure in his chest from repressing this joy he felt. She would bear his children, and he would love her with all his heart and soul and she would know it, the whole world would know it, he would carve it into the sky with the power of his love, her love; the love they would make together. It had been the most perfect day to him. Like they had been all alone in the most ideal place, and island in the sun, a place reserved just for them.
"I still can't believe that you would peel my grapes for me." She said, and he laughed and fed her another.
"Me neither." He replied. She glared up at him playfully still chewing and he pinched her nose gently. "You're cute." He muttered. She swallowed and gazed up at him solemnly.
"You're enchanting." She replied. He blushed and rolled his eyes. "What?" she asked confused.
"You need to stop doing that." He countered. She smiled and then sat up turning to kneel facing him.
"Why?" she asked taking his hand in hers.
"You know why." He countered. She reached up and framed his face in his hands.
"I can't help it if it's true." She said softly stroking his face gently with her soft hands. "Do you really think that by just not mentioning them your outstanding qualities will go away? You don't like to hear it because it embarrasses you, but it's true Hector, all of it. You are afraid of admitting it. But you don't have to be afraid of who and what you are, because you're beautiful." He gazed into her eyes feeling a part of him break loose and float away, like he was captivated by her eyes and her face and her soft voice. How did she know so much about him? Was he that transparent? Did he care? Not really... He shot forward and captured her mouth with his causing her to gasp and then let out a soft sigh as she leaned closer. His hands slid into her hair as he tilted her head to the side to give himself better access. She sighed again and her lips parted delicately pulling him closer. She felt his tongue stroke hers and tasted wine and fruit on it. His hands ran over her arms, down her side to her waist, around to her back, stroking caressing gently persistent in their trek and she moaned quietly. Her arms slid around his neck and she shifted folding her legs beneath her so that he could bring her closer almost into his lap. She liked kissing him a lot. He was gentle but passionate, arousing yet respectful and always so understanding. The world seemed to tilt and she found her back pressing against the blanket they had been sitting on. She could feel the soft sand give way beneath her and the slight weight of his upper body across hers. His arms were around her, cradling her as his hands moved over her back. He couldn't remember ever feeling this intoxicated by a woman before. He probably was moving too fast, but she was so soft and warm and her skin smelt so good and he desperately needed to soak himself in her as much as was mortally possible. His arms tightened slightly and he heard the soft moan in her throat before her body arched beneath him and her hands moved over his back. He probed deeper with his tongue and felt her response all the way down to his toes. She felt like she was on fire. And the only way to alleviate the ache in her chest and belly and the unbearable heat in her flesh was to pull him closer and closer, slide her hands into his thick, cool, hair and press herself against him. She moaned again and he indulged for a few more moments before pulling away tenderly, his breathing heavy. "What? What's wrong?" she panted.
"Nothing." He replied and she raised her head up to kiss him long and slow and deep. This time it was he who moaned and he wondered briefly how she knew how to kiss so well before he pulled away again and rested his forehead against hers. "We should go." He whispered. "It'll be getting dark soon." She nodded and kissed him once more.
"Very soon." She agreed, still kissing him. He grinned against her mouth.
"Andromache." He started and she pulled away again.
"I know. I'm stopping." She replied with a sigh. He rolled away before rising and helping her to her feet. Together, they packed up the picnic and mounted their horses before riding back to Troy, racing the last rays of daylight.