A/N: I now plan to put up a new chapter each day; I'm just finishing the sixth chapter so I should be able to have a new chapter up every day.

Thank you for reviewing Lady Hades :) I'm glad you and Queen Arwen are enjoying this so far :)

In this chapter, and through-out the fic, peploses are mentioned. The peplos is a garment worn by women, I think around the time of Troy etc., but I could be wrong. I also mention Andromache's handmaiden, Xanthe. Xanthe is a character in Troy by Adele Geras and works as a nursemaid to Astyanax and also works in the blood room in Troy. I needed to have a handmaiden for Andromache, and so decided to use the name Xanthe, but the characters are quite different.

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Andromache returned to her own chambers and fell down to the floor. She didn't cry, the grief within her was too much to be shown by childish tears.

How long she sat there, she didn't know. Andromache swayed her body gently, side to side and clung onto her cloak. She had always believed that you only marry a person when you loved them. Andromache had always known, however, that for a Princess to marry for love was almost impossible. As a little girl she had dreamt of what her marriage would be like, it would be the most important event in her life, other than having children.

She had seen arranged marriages develop from its early stages, and had also been fortunate to see marriage that was for love and nothing else. Andromache had noticed the vast differences; in many arranged marriages she had seen that the partners merely tolerated each other. Whereas with marriages of love, from the beginning, she had seen how they looked at one another, how they both loved no one else and that is what Andromache wished for, but believed she would never have.

The door to her chamber quietly creaked open and Andromache rushed to her feet. Her mother entered the room and silently closed the door behind her.

"Prince Hector seems like a very, nice young man, Andromache," said her mother, gently. She too remembered what it was like to have her dreams dashed when her betrothed had come to collect her, years ago.

Andromache said nothing; she didn't know what to say and instead went to sit on her bed.

"I know it seems hard now," continued Queen Sofia, "but it's like this for every young maiden who meets her betrothed for the first time. Don't fear Andromache, Hector will prove to be a wonderful husband to you."

"I don't wish to hear lies, mother," said Andromache, coldly. "I know how arranged marriages work, and as a Princess of Thebe it's my duty to honour my father's wishes."

Queen Sofia simply nodded and sat down beside her daughter and rubbed her back slowly. "Please do not be angry with your father, or me. We would never arrange you in a marriage that we doubted couldn't work."

"I know mother," said Andromache, sadly and hugged her mother tightly.

"I will send Xanthe in to prepare you for the welcoming feast this evening," said Queen Sofia and kissed her daughter's forehead before leaving.

Only moments after Queen Sofia had left the room, Xanthe entered. Xanthe was Andromache's favourite handmaiden and would be escorting her to Troy.

"I believe Prince Hector is quite handsome," said Xanthe and led Andromache to the dresser so she could start preparing her for the feast, "although I've heard that his brother, Prince Paris, is also a handsome Prince who thinks of you as a goddess."

Andromache laughed. "How did you hear that?"

"You were walking past your father's room," said Xanthe but then stopped for a moment, "and I happened to be preparing to leave there when I heard you pass with the Princes and listened for a moment. I'm sorry, my lady, it was none of my business."

Andromache shook her head and smiled weakly. Xanthe was a mistress of her father, the whole palace knew it, even her mother, and no one thought less of Xanthe or King Eetion, so she would often sit in there and comfort the King if need be. It was to be expected for a King, or Prince, to take on mistresses when his wife was not able to perform for him. Andromache knew that Xanthe had not liked being chosen for the task, but could not refuse and also knew that Xanthe was relieved to be leaving with her.

"It's fine Xanthe," said Andromache. "I suppose I must get used to my future husband having mistresses, which he of course will."

Xanthe nodded slightly, she knew Andromache's dreams of marrying for love as well as her own. After a moment of reflection Xanthe began to prepare Andromache for the welcoming feast.

----

"Princess Andromache is certainly an attractive Princess, don't you think Hector?" asked Paris.

Hector smiled, wishing not to reveal too much on how he thought about Andromache's striking appearance. "Yes, she is certainly pleasing to one's eye."

Paris laughed aloud and strode across their chambers to look out of the balcony. "Well I wish you the best in conquering her heart. From what we've seen of her so far, or heard … I would expect her to be a strong willed woman, which I know you like."

"Conquering her heart?" asked Hector and fidgeted nervously on his chair. "I had no intention of conquering her heart, and why should I? I will be nice to her, of course, and I will try and make her comfortable around me but love in arranged marriages never happens, not passionate love at least."

"You could prove to be mistaken," said Paris, confidently, "you've hardly spoken to Andromache and I'm sure on closer acquaintance that she could prove to be a woman worth loving."

Hector said nothing but sighed heavily. Before traveling to Thebe he had spoken for long hours to his father, mainly talking about the marriage between him and Andromache. He had listened carefully while his father spoke of how to treat Andromache when they first met and to ensure that there wasn't any uneasiness around each other as it would result in a difficult wedding night, for them both.

The wedding night had been something Hector had thought of only briefly while traveling to Thebe but after he had met Andromache, it was almost on his mind constantly. He worried that there would still be awkwardness between them when the time came for him to make her his wife, and take her from the path of maidenhood. He was also scared of having to perform as a husband to her, he had never proven to be good around women … women were his brothers expertise.

A loud knock on the door to their chambers tore Hector away from his thoughts. Paris swiftly hurried to the door and opened it widely so Hector could also look through it from where he was sat.

"My lords," greeted the man who had knocked on the door and then slowly bowed before Prince Paris and Hector. "I've come to lead you to your welcoming feast, if you would both please follow me when you're ready."

"Are you ready Hector?" Paris asked and turned to look at his brother who had suddenly turned very pale.

"Yes," said Hector slowly, stood up off his chair and followed Paris and the man to his welcoming feast.

Hector had always despised feasts, especially when they were in honour of him. He'd never liked attention being drawn to him, but he knew that as a Prince of Troy, he would always get unwanted attention.

In what seemed no time at all, Hector and Paris were being ushered into chairs at the royal table in the dinning hall of the palace. Unfortunately Paris had been sat opposite Hector, and not next to him to keep him company. Almost of all the seats were occupied except from the chair next to him on his left, he knew that this would be where Andromache would sit.

"Andromache, my dear daughter, you look wonderful," said King Eetion and kissed his daughter on both cheeks as she entered, before motioning for her to sit next to Prince Hector.

Hector looked up when he heard King Eetion speak and gasped aloud when he caught sight of Andromache, Paris noticed and smiled happily.

Andromache floated over to Hector silently and took her place next to him. Hector controlled the urge to watch her continuously, she looked so magnificently beautiful, and like a goddess she looked … a beautiful goddess.

Andromache wore a violet coloured peplos which was patterned with flowered designs. Her hair was placed high upon her head, pinned together with small, delicate clips and a few twisted curls of hair fell graciously down her back. She looked at Hector, who continued to gaze at her, and scowled. Andromache had always hated to be thought or looked at as beautiful, she didn't think she possessed any true beauty and didn't see the need for such looks by men.

"You look wonderful, Andromache," said Hector, deliberately not using the word Princess.

Andromache turned to look at him and held his gaze for a few moments, but then turned away. "Thank you, Prince Hector."

King Eetion stood up once more and raised his gold goblet full of red wine. "Welcome to this feast, in honour of the Princes: Hector and Paris, for arriving to Thebe so safely. Please now join me in a toast to welcoming the Princes and also to Andromache, who will soon be marrying Prince Hector."

"To the Princes of Troy and Andromache," said everyone in unison, while raising their classes and then drinking from them.

King Eetion then sat down, next to his wife, and began talking to her while he and everyone else ate, everyone else except Andromache.

So many thoughts and feelings were rushing through Andromache's head that she couldn't bare the thought of eating, so she instead toyed with her food and ignored Hector's momentary glances towards her periodically.

"Is this food not to your liking?" asked Prince Hector, well aware of why Andromache was not eating.

"Of course it isn't," snarled Andromache quietly, "for what other reason could I not be eating, Prince Hector."

Hector sighed and lowered his voice so only Andromache could hear him this time. "I know you don't like me and would rather stay here in Thebe than marry me but I'm afraid that isn't possible. And as it isn't possible, I propose that we at least try to get along, it will make things easier for us both."

Andromache glared at Hector incredulously; she didn't want to make things easier as she didn't want to marry him, or anyone that she didn't love. "I wish to retire to my chamber now, Prince Hector. Goodnight." With that Andromache stood up and was about to leave the dinning hall when Hector spoke:

"As you wish, but as your betrothed it's my duty to escort you."

Andromache glared at Hector who smiled back, but then she saw that her father was watching her. "Very well Prince Hector."

Hector smiled widely and Andromache couldn't help but enjoy it, he did have a nice smile. He stood up and took Andromache's arm and they both walked out of the dinning hall.

"I really do wish to make this marriage as easy for you as possible," said Hector, trying to start a conversation.

Andromache said nothing in reply and continued to walk down the halls to her chamber.

"You were riding a beautiful horse earlier today," said Hector, "it's a shame you can't bring him to Troy with you. I wasn't aware that you enjoyed riding horses, so I would like it if you would do me the honour of riding with me tomorrow."

Andromache again said nothing for a moment but then found the courage to speak. "As you wish, Prince Hector, I'm sure a horse can be provided to satisfy your wish at such short notice."

"I thought you would make our meetings difficult," grumbled Hector, but wished at once to take back his words.

Andromache stopped walking suddenly and turned to face Hector. "Difficult? Of course our meetings would be difficult, Prince Hector, I'm being torn away from my family to marry and live in Troy with you."

"I'm sorry Andromache," said Hector, sadly, "I never meant to say that."

"But you thought it," cried Andromache, "that is enough." She then rushed to her chambers, ignoring Hector's apologies.