Andromache had arrived at the garden about an hour before Hector came. She sat nervously by the rosebush waiting for him. She hadn't quite figured out what she was going to say to him, but she knew that if she thought about it too much that she'd drive herself crazy. She decided to stare at the flowers instead.

Hector had also spent the day trying to figure out what he would say to Andromache. At first he thought he should let her talk, but then that made him more nervous because it was too unpredictable. He didn't know what she would say, and he didn't like not knowing what was going to happen. He contemplated it up until the moment he entered the garden that night. He spotted the young princess sitting by her favorite flowers, and he stopped, watching her. He wasn't quite sure why he found her so beautiful - she didn't have any features that set her apart from the other women he had met, but he did know that he had never been so transfixed by any.

"You like the roses." he began, repeating the words he had spoken to her on their first meeting. She turned quickly to look at him, a tear flowing down her cheek. She could think of nothing to say, so instead looked back to the bush. Hector walked over to her and sat a safe distance away. She shifted to look at him. "Have you decided?" he asked her. She nodded.

"I have." He stared at her with anticipation, and she began feeling ill. "You were right." she admitted.

"About what?" he asked, following her with his eyes as she stood.

"I want to be loved." she replied. "That's it. That's all."

"All?" he questioned, standing next to her. He was confused and wasn't sure what she meant.

"Hector, you are a good man, but we have just met. We barely know each other. I don't love you and you can't love me. How would this work?"

"Andromache, you may not love me now, but someday you may." Hector explained.

"I don't want to live my life based on some days or maybes. I want to know that I will love you. I need to know that you will love me. And love is not something that you can promise." she cried, her voice breaking.

"Give me a chance Andromache. Give me a chance to love you." he begged.

"I can't," she sobbed, letting out a shaky breath. She let her tears fall freely and didn't dare look at him. She didn't think she had the strength. Hector reached up and wiped the salty droplets from her cheek. She closed he eyes, soaking up his lingering touch. He cradled her face in his hand, catching the tears that continued to stream down.

"Why not?" he whispered. It was barely audible, in fact, if Andromache had not been as close to him as she was, she wouldn't have known he had said anything. She sobbed harder now, reaching her hand up to join his.

"You've…been…so…so kind to…to me…me." she cried between quick breaths.

"Then marry me Andromache." he pleaded. Hector smiled. "Marry me. Let me make you happy."

"I want you to be happy." she mouthed, unable to speak. Suddenly, she found her voice. "I can't make you happy, Hector. I'm sorry." She forced her feet to move and she quickly walked away from him.

Hector was in shock. He wasn't sure of what to do, but he knew that he wanted her, and he wouldn't let her get away. He chased after her as quietly as he could. As soon as he was close enough to touch her he grabbed her arm and spun her around.

Without giving her a chance to react, he pulled her body close to his and brought her face close to his so that their noses touched. Her eyes widened in surprise and he put his fingers to her lips to silence her.

"Shh, listen to me." he commanded. "Andromache, what other choice do you have? You said so yourself, there may not be anyone for you to marry. I know that you are afraid, Andromache, I'm afraid too. Please don't shut me out. I will take care of you. I can't promise that you'll love me, but I can honestly tell you now that I love you." With that he gently grasped the back of her neck and pushed her lips to his.

The kiss was tender and sweet, their lips barely touching, Andromache choking back sobs. Hector deepened the kiss to relax her, allowing more contact between their mouths. Andromache raised her hands to his chest and flattened her palms against him. He wrapped his arm around her and laid his hand against her back, rubbing it gently. Hector prayed silently that this moment would never end, because he feared that it would be the only time he would be this close to her. His hand slid to her face, slowly coxing her. She relaxed into him and let him hold her and console her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sunk into his body. Hector pulled back and looked into her eyes, breathing deeply. Her tears had subsided, but the sadness was still in her eyes.

"Marry me." he repeated. She pulled away and violently shook her head. Hector's heart broke as he watched her pain.

"No!" she yelled. "No, I won't, I won't marry you." With this she ran out of the garden. Knowing that it would be a mistake, Hector ran after her, catching her at the bottom of the stairs. "Let me alone!" she cried.

"Andromache, tell me why you're so upset. You wouldn't be like this if something wasn't wrong." he looked lovingly into her eyes. "Tell me."

"Hector, I…" she paused, once again on the verge of hysterics. He tried to calm her by whispering and telling her to take her time. "I talked to Tenious, my brother. This morning I had every intention of marrying you Hector, but now I can't."

"Shh, it's okay. What did he say?" Hector asked.

"He told me that you were a warrior and that someday it would be the sword that would kill you. He told me that as your wife I would have to live to see you fall." she explained. "He told me that he saw me in a dream, as a captive." she took a deep breath and shook her head. "I do not want to fall in love with you knowing that someday I will lose you. I wouldn't be able to bear that." Suddenly it made sense, and Hector nodded. She wanted to be with him. She just didn't want to lose him.