Andromache sat out on her balcony again the next night, staring out at the city. She was tired – she'd had a trying day. Her father informed her there would be some "changes" coming soon, and that she needed to prepare for an impending marriage.

After asking who was to be her husband, Eetion replied, "You'll find out soon. He would like to tell you himself when he's ready."

"Is he already here?" she had asked. Her father was being vague.

He had continued without answering. "It doesn't matter. What does matter is that this will be a strong alliance for Thebe, and a fruitful marriage for you."

She was so angry with her father for not telling her who she was to marry. Didn't she at least deserve that? Andromache glanced dejectedly down at the garden and noticed that the lamps were lit. No one ever visited the garden at night, and Andromache knew exactly who was there. She rushed down as quickly as she could and ran into the garden, searching for Hector. She arrived in the courtyard and looked around for him.

Hector smiled to himself. He was sitting behind a tree so that Andromache wouldn't see him if she came down. He wanted to see what she would do when she saw that he wasn't there.

He decided not to be cruel, and stepped out from his hiding place. "Princess," he called, "Are you looking for someone?" he asked coyly. Andromache smiled as he stepped out from behind the tree. She was pleased to see him. It was odd that she found so much comfort from him, but she felt relief at seeing him.

"As a matter of fact, yes." She replied. "I was looking for a handsome man to sweep me off my feet, but there aren't any here." She joked. Hector chuckled and walked over to her. She suddenly became very serious and looked solemnly at him. "My father arranged a marriage for me." She told him.

"I know." Hector replied, looking into her eyes. "He told me."

"I don't know who it is. But I don't want to. He said it would be a 'fruitful marriage' for me." He paused and sat on the same bench she sat on the night before. "Who says that anyway?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Well, I'm sure your father has picked a good man for you." Hector suggested, sitting down next to her.

"I thought I'd be so excited about it, but now I'm not so sure." She confessed.

"Why not?" he questioned.

"Why should I be excited? I'm being sent away. Marriage is nice to dream about, but it's different when it's actually happening." She noted.

"Because you've never met or because you could never love him?" Hector asked.

"I wouldn't say never. But probably because I don't love him now." She paused and sighed. "Who could it be?" she asked rhetorically.

"I know." He began, startling her a little.

"Did my father tell you?" she asked, turning to him. She was curious and did not expect what was coming next.

"No." he answered honestly. "But he gave permission."

"What?" she asked.

"Andromache, I came here for a reason." He began, hoping she would forgive him. "My ship wasn't damaged. Your father asked me to stay."

"Why?" she inquired. She clearly wasn't picking it up.

"It's me, Andromache. I came hear to meet with your father. He asked me to marry you." He explained. Andromache's eyes became wide with shock. Before she could say anything, Hector began speaking again. "But I wanted to ask you myself." Andromache looked at him curiously.

"Ask me? You're giving me a choice?" she questioned, puzzled.

"Andromache, I know you want to fall in love. I know that an arranged marriage isn't what you want. It's not what I want either, but…" he paused and took her hands. "But I promise that if you will marry me, I'll make you as happy as I can. Andromache I was so afraid when I arrived here that you would be like every other Princess I've ever met – stuck up and selfish – but you are amazing. When I met you last night I began to adore you, and if you marry me, I promise I'll adore you even more each day. I may not be the man of your dreams, but I'll do all I can to make you happy. I won't force this on you. I want you to have what you want." Andromache couldn't help but notice that he had completed his entire monologue in three breaths. She couldn't think of anything to say, so she just looked at him.

"Andromache, will you marry me?" Hector asked her. Andromache held her breath and let tears fall. She finally took a deep breath and looked away, fear in her eyes. He brushed a piece of hair from her face and wiped away some tears.

"I… I need to think about this Hector. I…" she could barely form a sentence. She looked to him, asking him to help her.

"You don't have to answer right now," he told her. "Meet me here tomorrow at the same time. You can answer then." He whispered. She quietly nodded, stood up and left. Hector watched her go, her tears still falling.

Andromache arrived in her room, even more shaken up than she had been when she left. She curled up in her bed, deciding that there was no way she could think about this tonight, and quickly let her tears coax her to sleep.