A/N: Thank you again for the reviews, I really do appreciate it. I've decided to stop replying to individual reviews in the chapters because if anyone happens to read this in the future, I don't want them to get offended because I hadn't replied to their review. I read all of the reviews and I love them to bits, so thank you so much if you take the time to review!

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The first few days while sailing to Troy passed quickly. Andromache mainly stayed in her quarters but sometimes, late in the evening, she would come up onto the deck with her handmaiden and look out to the sea for a few moments but then would suddenly grow tired and return to her quarters.

Hector had tried to talk to Andromache every time she came up onto the deck, but she hardly ever replied to him with words, instead she would nod or shake her head. He understood that she was hurting, more than she knew.

One night, a week after they had set sail from Thebe, Andromache's handmaiden had felt too ill to stay up on the deck withherand so retired to Andromache's quarters, suffering from sea sick, and so Hector had decided to stay with Andromache.

"Are you cold?" asked Hector, who saw that Andromache was shivering slightly because she only wore a light, green peplos.

"A little," confessed Andromache, knowing that Hector could see her shiver slightly.

Hector removed his cloak from around him and placed it over Andromache; she held onto it and studied Hector's eyes for a few moments before looking away.

"Thank you," said Andromache and smiled at Hector.

Hector felt like his heart would explode when he looked at Andromache, and that she smiled back at him. He hadnever seen her looking so beautiful, and even though she was dressed simply and wore no jewelry, she seemed perfect to him. Slowly Hector took her face in his hands and kissed her lips softly.

Andromache was warmed to the end of her fingertips and toes, she felt like a volcano had erupted inside of her, and in doing so it had awoken new feelings for her, feelings she had never experienced before. She raised her hands to behind Hector's neck and ignored that the cloak had dropped from around her shoulders and to the floor.

Hector kissed Andromache more passionately with each second and groaned happily when he felt her arms wrap around him.

Andromache smiled and giggled inwardly as Hector pressed his lips against hers once more. She didn't love Hector, and she suspected that she never would but she enjoyed his company and knew that he would be a kind and gentle husband towards her.

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The remaining weeks on the ship, destined for Troy, passed by happily for Andromache and Hector. The first few days after Andromache and Hector kissed had been awkward for Andromache, she didn't know how to now react around him but he showed warmth and kindness towards her, so she did also.

Andromache's handmaiden had become terribly ill with sea sickness and so spent much of her time in Andromache's quarters, so Andromache was entertained by Paris, when Hector was busy.

"I'm glad you're going to marry Hector," said Paris, on the day before they were due to arrive in Troy. Both he and Andromache were standing out on the deck and looked out to the sea, mesmerized by its beauty. "I couldn't have thought of a better woman to be with Hector, and I couldn't have thought of a better man to be with you, Andromache."

Andromache blushed and nudged Paris kindly. "Thank you Paris. I didn't think an arranged marriage would be as peaceful as this, but Hector and I are good friends, now, which will make for a happy marriage."

"Good friends?" gasped Paris. "Andromache you will be marrying Hector soon, don't you love him?"

Andromache laughed. "Love him? There is no such thing as love in an arranged marriage. Well perhaps there is the love of friendship, but usually nothing more."

"By the gods, you sound just like him," sighed Paris.

"Hector said the same thing?" asked Andromache, curiously.

"Yes," said Paris, but then looked at Andromache's disappointed face and added: "But he said that after he had first met you, before the welcoming feast, and I'm sure that he feels differently now."

Andromache nodded slightly. She knew it was silly, but she felt hurt for Hector to think that love didn't exist in arranged marriages, even though she thought the sameway … or she thought she did.

"Are you alright Andromache?" asked Paris, concerned by the dazed expression she wore.

Andromache turned her head to look at Paris. "Of course, I'm fine."

Paris nodded and said nothing more.

----

On the day they were to arrive in Troy, Hector called for Andromache, who was tending to Xanthe.

"You called for me?" asked Andromache. Hector had noticed that since yesterday, Andromache had been quite distant from him.

"Yes, I wanted to show you something," said Hector, and then he hurried behind Andromache and covered her eyes with his hands and slowly ushered her to the side of the ship. Only when Hector had positioned Andromache in the best possible place to see the magnificent view, did he pull his hands away from Andromache's eyes.

Andromache gasped loudly as she looked upon Troy for the first time. She had never seen a place more beautiful, not even Thebe could compare to the beauty that was Troy. The city of Troy was built upon a hill and was surrounded by a gigantically tall, sand coloured wall, and it overlooked the sea. The blistering, hot sun shined its light down upon Troy, making its walls appear to glitter slightly.

"It's beautiful Hector," breathed Andromache and continued to gaze at Troy with wonder.

Hector smiled, he was always struck by how beautiful Troy really was when he returned from long voyages abroad. "We'll be arriving in Troy shortly, Andromache."

Andromache nodded, still looking out across the sea and to Troy. "I'll go and get ready, thank you Hector." She then hurried to her quarters and prepared herself for meeting Hector's family for the first time.

"It's truly beautiful, isn't it?" asked Paris, who slowly walked to Hector's side and looked at the magnificent Troy.

"Yes," breathed Hector, happily.

"What did Andromache think of Troy?" asked Paris, and watched Hector carefully.

Hector smiled upon remembering Andromache's reaction. "She loved it."

"Perhaps she will come to love you also, in time," said Paris and continued to study his brother carefully.

"Love me?" whispered Hector, his face turning pale.

Paris sighed. "I was talking to Andromache, yesterday, and she seemed quite upset that you had said there was never love in arranged marriages."

"You told her that, why?" asked Hector, quietly and avoided his brother's glaring eyes.

"Because she asked," answered Paris, "after I had asked her if she loved you, which she replied to as no, because she thought there was no such thing as love in arranged marriages. I'm only saying all this because I believe you and Andromache could love one another. I've seen the way you look at her when she comes to you, the way you look at her when she smiles, and I've seen the way she looks at you when you treat her as an equal, and even after you kissed her."

"You saw that?" gasped Hector.

Paris laughed. "I think the whole crew saw the passionate kiss between you and Andromache." Then after a moment, he continued: "I know you probably think thatI couldn't possibly begin to imagine what love must be like as Ibed different maidens when the mood strikes me, and married women, but I can see the beginnings of it in your relationship with Andromache."

Hector laughed. "Goodness Paris, I never expected you to say something like that, let alone think it."

"I normally wouldn't," replied Paris, frostily, "but I like Andromache, as a friend, and I can tell she wishes to be loved."

Hector said nothing; instead he thought of Andromache and wondered if what Paris had said was really true. He had noticed that Andromache had been distant with him yesterday, after she had spoken to Paris, so perhaps she was upset that he didn't think love was possible in arranged marriages. Hector tried to think the same way he had thought before attending the welcoming feast in Thebe, but he didn't think he could. He felt that there was a chance that he could love Andromache, given time. Andromache was more perfect to Hector than he could ever imagine, he just needed to open his heart to her, and she needed to open her heart to him.