A/N: Thank you again for the reviews and thank you for adding me to the C2 community you have, Lady Hades!
This is quite a long chapter, so enjoy :)
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Hector and Priam sat in the meeting room, and having discussed the current situations in nearby countries, they turned their talk to Andromache.
"She seems like a very pleasant girl," said Priam, and saw his son's face light up.
"She is," replied Hector, "I think we will live comfortably with one another."
"You're very lucky Hector," said Priam, "make sure you remember that."
Hector nodded. I remember it every time I'm with her, thought Hector.
"The wedding will be next week," said Priam, and drank from his goblet filled with wine. "I think you and Andromache should spend as much time with each other, as you can, between now and then."
Hector again nodded in agreement. "If that's all father, I would like to see if she is settling in."
"Of course," said Priam, and watched as Hector left. They'll be extremely content with each other, he mused.
Hector walked through the palace, he felt more relaxed now that he was within his own home, and headed towards the women's quarters, where he thought Andromache would be. However, as he walked down the hall leading to his destination, he passed his mother and greeted her.
"You weren't long with your father," said Hecuba, when she saw Hector, and halted in front of him.
"I wasn't, surprisingly," grinned Hector. "Is Andromache in the women's quarters?"
"No, Paris insisted on showing her the gardens," answered Hecuba, "He thought you would like to show Andromache the rest of the palace, tomorrow."
"How considerate of him," laughed Hector. "Thank you mother, I'll try and find them."
Hecuba nodded and continued walking down the hall and to her own chamber, while Hector made his way to the palace gardens.
----
"It's very beautiful," admitted Andromache, as she walked around the palace gardens with Paris.
"It is," agreed Paris. "I hardly come here now; I spend much more of my time in the town with beautiful young maidens, although none of them can compare to your sheer beauty." Paris and Andromache laughed.
"Oh Paris!" exclaimed Andromache. "Your charming words are only wasted on me."
Paris plucked the head off a blue rose and began twirling it, with his fingers. "If you could return to Thebe, would you?"
Andromache was silent for a moment as she pondered over Paris' question. "No, I don't think I would. I'd have to be arranged in marriage one day, and I can't think of a better man than Hector."
Paris nodded. "When I was younger, I wished to be like him, but then my mind was suddenly awakened with the thought of women."
Andromache laughed, but then her tone grew serious. "Do you find any happiness in bedding women, is there such simple happiness?"
"I'm happy when I'm around women," said Paris, honestly, and then paused before speaking again. "Although, I think that one day I'll find a woman to love, who'll love me in return."
Andromache bowed her head sadly, Paris spoke of the very thing she wished for: to find someone to love and to be loved in return. "Do you think it's possible to learn to love, or fall in love gradually?"
Paris looked to Andromache and realised why she asked. "Of course I do, how else may people fall in love?"
Their attention was then drawn to heavy footsteps behind them. Paris smiled as he saw Hector nearing him and Andromache.
"I'll leave you both alone," Paris grinned, and quickly returned into the palace.
"Where did Paris go?" asked Hector, when he reached Andromache.
"He decided to leave us alone," smirked Andromache.
Hector drew his arms around Andromache's waist. "How do you feel?"
Safe, thought Andromache. But she decided to answer differently: "Very happy, your family is lovely." After a moment she spoke again. "Your mother told me that we're going to be married next week and I was thinking that we barely know each other, so perhaps we should … should-,"
"Spend time together?" interjected Hector.
"Yes," answered Andromache. "But if you'll be busy, then it doesn't matter."
"Andromache," said Hector and kissed her forehead softly, "you're going to be my wife, of course I'll not be busy."
Andromache smiled shyly, and suddenly felt her heart was braking, she was falling in love.
----
"These are the women's quarters," said Hector. He and Andromache had returned inside the palace, and Hector had shown her to where her chamber would be until they were married.
"Will you not show me to my chambers?" asked Andromache, slightly bewildered as to why they didn't enter.
"I'm not allowed in there," said Hector, smiling. "Your handmaiden will probably be waiting for you, so she'll show you to your room."
"No man is allowed in these quarters?" asked Andromache.
"Not even my father," replied Hector. "My mother uses it as her refuge when they argue."
"A wise woman," said Andromache and then laughed.
"Indeed," said Hector. "I'm sure you're tired and need to prepare for the feast, so I'll say goodbye."
"Goodbye," said Andromache and then entered the women's quarters.
Andromache had stepped into the communal sitting area. In a corner of the room, there was a loom, but it looked as if it hadn't been used for many a year. She presumed that the looms were kept in the chambers, like in Thebe. A few chairs were scattered around the room, and different coloured rugs were placed by the balcony that revealed a wonderful view of the sea. She saw that only Polyxena was in the room, and she looked up from arranging flowers as Andromache entered.
"Andromache," greeted Polyxena and motioned for her to sit beside her. "I should be preparing for the feast, but I can't find my handmaiden, I think she is feeling unwell. Usually I'd use my mothers, or Cassandra's, but as it's a feast, they're occupied. I could use another handmaiden, but I prefer a girl that I know."
"My handmaiden, Xanthe, came with me from Thebe," Andromache said, "would you like her to help you? I'm sure I could begin with my hair while I waited."
"I would love to, thank you," beamed Polyxena.
"Would you please show me to my chambers, Xanthe will probably be there?" asked Andromache.
"Of course," answered Polyxena and showed Andromache to her room.
Xanthe waited for Andromache in her room, as Andromache had thought. She was more than happy to help Polyxena prepare for the feast, which Andromache was glad of because she desired time alone.
Andromache's defenses around her heart were slowly crumbling down. But she felt like nothing more than a friend to Hector, and she wished to be more. A wife she would soon be to him, but Andromache wished to be loved by Hector, loved so deeply and passionately, that nothing could ever tear them apart. My heart is breaking, she thought, but is his? Tears slowly ran down Andromache's cheeks.
The door to Andromache's chamber opened, and Xanthe stepped into the room, having returned from Polyxena's chamber, where she skillfully prepared the Princess for the evening's feast. She was slightly startled to see Andromache with tears flooding out of her eyes.
"What's wrong?" asked Xanthe and rushed to Andromache's side, who sat on her bed.
"Nothing," mumbled Andromache, and brought her hand to her mouth, to stifle her sobs. "I'm fine Xanthe."
Xanthe turned Andromache to face her. "Is it because you miss Thebe?"
Andromache shook her head vigorously. "No … it's Hector."
"Hector?" asked Xanthe, somewhat puzzled. "I thought you and Hector were friends."
"We are," cried Andromache, "but … I care for him, I'm beginning to care for him more and more each time I see him. I feel weak when I'm around him, not because I fear him, but because I don't wish to show him my feelings, when I know that he … he doesn't feel the same."
Xanthe hugged Andromache and stroked her hair, to soothe her mind. "Do you love him?"
"I don't know," murmured Andromache, "how do I tell if I'm in love or not? I have feelings for Hector, but I can't decipher them."
"Love is different for everyone," said Xanthe and her eyes trailed away, to look out of the balcony and to the sea.
Andromache looked up to Xanthe and tried to read her expression as she watched the sea. "Did you ever love … my father?"
Xanthe slowly turned her head to Andromache and nodded sadly. "I never thought I did, I loved his affection towards me, but I didn't think that I loved him, not until we left Thebe. I realised, once we had set sail, how much I truly did care for your father. It's childish I know, for the mistress to fall in love with her master … but I did."
Silence then filled the room and Andromache thought over Xanthe's words. "I never blamed you for being my father's mistress. I even saw you and my father kiss one night, and at first I was angry at you both, but I can understand now. You never chose to be his mistress, and I'm sorry that you had to leave him."
"You've no need to apologise," said Xanthe, "I should be, and I'm truly sorry Andromache."
Andromache embraced Xanthe once more. "I should prepare for the feast, did you finish helping Polyxena?"
"I did," said Xanthe, "I had thought that Polyxena was older, but she is only sixteen. King Priam may soon find her a husband, which is a shame as she seems very nice."
Andromache nodded and sat down in the wooden chair by the mirror in her room, to be prepared for the feast.
-----
Hector paced up and down in his chamber, nervously twiddling his thumbs. He was dressed for the feast, and chose to wear a dark blue robe, but still felt nervous.
The door to his room opened and Hector started.
"Are you ready?" It was Paris, and he grinned when he saw how agitated his brother's expression was.
"What are you doing here Paris?" asked Hector, angrily.
"Mother sent me to collect you," replied Paris, "it's time for the feast."
"I don't need collecting," snapped Hector.
"Obviously," muttered Paris, as he cast a glance at Hector's fidgeting hands. "Are you nervous?"
"No!" scowled Hector, but then sighed heavily, admitting defeat. "Yes … I am."
"Why?" inquired Paris. He had never been fortunate enough to see his brother nervous, and was enjoying himself immensely.
"Because," said Hector, "because I like Andromache. I don't wish to appear childish around her; I've never been good with women. Andromache and I have become friends, but now that the wedding is drawing near … I don't want to jeopardize what we've gained, by acting like a fool."
"You're not a fool Hector!" said Paris. "Andromache likes you for who you are. Stop fretting and come with me to the feast."
Hector nodded and made his way to the dinning hall with Paris. He was relieved to see that Andromache hadn't arrived because he wanted to gain his wits before she did.
Almost all of the seats had been filled, except for the seat next to his, where Andromache would sit. Hector also noticed that Polyxena hadn't arrived either. He leaned across to his mother, who sat next to his father.
"Where are Andromache and Polyxena?" he asked.
"I don't know," said Hecuba and glanced around the room. "Polyxena was supposed to bring Andromache with her, I'll see if they're in the women's quarters."
"I'll go mother, they're probably coming this way now," said Hector, slightly annoyed with Polyxena.
Hector paced through the halls of the palace, taking the shorter route to the women's quarters, by crossing through the gardens. He was just turning around another corner when he heard a woman scream. His heart began to beat rapidly, he had never heard Andromache scream, but he knew it was her. Hector ran through the halls to the women's quarters from where it had come. He had never felt so scared in all his life; he couldn't allow any harm to come to Andromache.
However, as Hector raced down the hall, leading to the women's quarters, he saw a different scene from what he had imagined. Andromache and Polyxena were standing outside the door to the women's quarters, and they were with two guards, they both appeared to be perfectly fine.
"What's going on?" panted Hector and walked to where they stood.
Confusion quickly swept across Andromache's face when she saw Hector; especially as she looked into his eyes and saw that they were filled with fear. "We're on our way to the feast, shouldn't you be also?"
"I was there, but as you and my sister were running late, I came to find you," said Hector, who had managed to catch his breath. "Why did you scream?"
"How did you know it was me?" asked Andromache, slightly shocked.
"I just knew," replied Hector.
"Forgive me, Prince Hector," said one of the guards, "we were patrolling the palace and greeted the Princesses as they left their quarters. But as we approached them we startled Princess Andromache, which caused her to scream, it was never our intention to frighten either of the Princesses."
Hector nodded, and felt that his fears of being a fool had come true. "Very well, you may be on your way now."
The guards nodded and left.
"I think I should go to the feast," said Polyxena, and began walking away, "I'll tell mother you'll arrive shortly."
"I'm sorry Hector," said Andromache, miserably. "The guards greeted me when I was leaving the quarters; I know it's silly that I … screamed."
Hector stepped forward to her and laughed. "You scared me half to death."
"I'm so sorry!" said Andromache, but then a thought a thought flashed through her mind. "Why did I scare you?"
"Because you're going to be my wife," said Hector and smiled broadly.
"Ah," whispered Andromache, and bowed her head slightly. She was upset, Andromache had wished for him to say that he feared for her life because he cared for her.
"Are you alright?" asked Hector, he had noticed her reaction.
"Of course," answered Andromache, brightly and raised her head to meet Hector's eyes.
It suddenly became apparent in his mind as to why Andromache had reacted strangely. He could have struck himself for speaking about her as if she were his property; he now wished to have said why he really did fear for her. "I'm sorry Andromache. I never meant to say that."
"Don't worry Hector," lied Andromache, "what you said was fine."
"No it wasn't," said Hector, who could sense that Andromache was lying. "I feared for you, because I care about you Andromache."
Andromache blushed heavily, she could tell by Hector's sincere tone and by the way he delved into her eyes, that he spoke the truth. "I care for you also, Hector."
Hector laughed and took Andromache in his arms. He kissed her gently at first as he didn't wish to startle her, but then he felt an urgent desire to kiss her more passionately, so he did.
Andromache clasped her arms around Hector's neck and slowly began to run her hands through his wavy, brown hair.
"We need to go to the feast," giggled Andromache, before Hector could kiss her again.
"They'll wait," said Hector, cheekily and kissed Andromache once more.