A/N: Thank you for the reviews, I really do love to read them so thank you! :) Oh and don't worry, Cassandra won't tell Andromache that her marriage is doomed :)
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Andromache twirled around in her wedding gown, in front of Hecuba, Polyxena and Cassandra. They beamed at Andromache, knowing that she looked positively beautiful.
Today Princess Andromache of Thebe would finally marry Prince Hector of Troy. The last few days had been incredibly hectic for Andromache, so she had seen very little of Hector, but she presumed him to be busy also.
Hecuba had thought that the wedding gown would be finished two days prior to the wedding, but it had only been completed the night before because the correct material for the wedding gown hadn't been available when planned.
Now everything was perfectly organised, and Andromache felt some weight begin to lift from off her shoulders. Earlier that morning, Andromache had her nuptial bath; water had been brought from a river nearby. It was thought that the bath would purify the bride and induce fertility.
Hecuba stood up off Andromache's bed, with a veil in her hands, and walked over to her. She carefully placed the veil on Andromache, the veil that symbolized her virginity; it would not be removed until she was claimed by Hector.
Tears began to flicker over Andromache's eyes, as she remembered her life in Thebe. Life in Thebe had been so simple for her, but now she was going to be a wife, and in time she'd be expected to become a mother. She loved Hector, there was no doubt in her heart, but Andromache still felt nervous about leaving the path of maiden hood and becoming a woman.
It was time, Andromache could hear voices gathering outside the women's quarters, and she was suddenly welcomed with the same butterflies in her stomach that she had felt on the day Hector had arrived to collect her in Thebe.
"Are you ready?" asked Hecuba, and smiled to reassure Andromache.
Andromache nodded.
Polyxena and Cassandra left the room quickly. Hecuba then led the way out of the women's quarters, Andromache following behind. Guards threw open the doors to the women's quarters, and Hecuba and Andromache stepped out of them. A crowd of Hector's female relatives were gathered outside the quarters and cheered happily.
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Hector looked to his bed, in his chamber. He had never imagined sharing it with someone for the rest of his life, but now … now he would be. A strange, feeling exploded within, when he thought of waking next to Andromache each day, he was looking forward to it.
"Are you ready, Hector?" asked Priam, who stood in Hector's chambers, as did Paris.
"Yes," answered Hector and smiled.
Priam stepped over to Hector and embraced him. "You'll be very happy."
Hector was the first to be married of Priam's children; Priam hoped that he wouldn't be the last. However, as the years passed by, no other child of Priam ever married … although they may have fell in love.
"I never thought I'd see the day when Hector married," laughed Paris.
"I did," said Priam, proudly.
Hector had always been Priam's favourite son. In Priam's eyes Hector was the perfect son, he was a warrior, an honourable Prince, and soon he would be a husband.
"Now that you're ready," said Priam, to Hector, "let us greet your bride."
The male relatives and friends of Hector would follow him, from his chambers, to the main palace balcony, where he would meet Andromache. Andromache would be followed by female relatives of the Trojan Royal family, a family she would soon be part of. She would then meet Hector at the main balcony, where Hector would claim her as his wife, in front of the Trojan people.
Once Hector had claimed Andromache as his wife, they would then make sacrifices to the gods, in hopes of being blessed in marriage. After the sacrifices had been made, Hector would take Andromache to the dinning hall where the wedding feast would be held.
Priam ushered Hector out of his chamber. Hector's male relatives and friends, who had gathered outside his room, cheered as he left his chambers. He laughed and embraced a few of them.
Hector began the walk to the main balcony. He was slightly nervous at the thought of greeting Andromache in front of hundreds of Trojans, but it was a tradition so he'd have to push his nerves aside.
Leading the way to the balcony, Hector began to hear the joyful cries of Trojans from outside the palace. He turned to look at his father, for reassurance, but Priam was talking to Paris. Hector was alone in this, and he would be until he met Andromache.
In the distance, the sight of women caught Hector's eyes. He knew this was Andromache and his female relatives. Hector grinded to a halt by the balcony, while he waited for Andromache.
Hector gasped aloud as he saw Andromache, who quickly walked to his side. She looked beautiful, so pure … so innocent that Hector could scarcely breathe.
Andromache took Hector's arm, and noticed that he wasn't shaking, unlike her. Her hands shook, and had began when she heard the cries of happy Trojans outside the palace.
Hector and Andromache stepped out onto the balcony. Cheers erupted from the Trojans, accompanied with clapping and tears of joy from Hector's family and friends.
"Trojans," greeted Hector, suddenly donning the loud voice he used in battle, "in front of you, as my witnesses, I hereby claim Princess Andromache of Thebe, as my wife!"
The crowd cheered loudly and watched as Hector removed Andromache's veil and kissed her softly. King Priam handed his son a golden laurel leafed crown, and Hector carefully placed it on Andromache's head. The crowd cheered once more as they looked upon Prince Hector and Princess Andromache.
"I love you," whispered Hector, before he kissed her once more.
"I love you too," replied Andromache, and fought off tears of happiness.
Hector and Andromache, as husband and wife, made sacrifices to the gods, and then made their way to the wedding feast.
Hector helped Andromache to her chair, next to his, before sitting in his own.
Priam immediately stood as soon as all the relatives and friends had entered the hall, and then he called for silence. "Welcome my friends to this feast in honour of the marriage between Prince Hector and Princess Andromache. Hector has been a wonderful son to Queen Hecuba and me, and will be a loving husband to Princess Andromache, who is equally wonderful. Now please join me in raising your goblets to Prince Hector and Princess Andromache."
They all raised their goblets to Hector and Andromache, and then drank from them.
Priam sat in his chair, once more.
"How do you feel?" asked Hector, and eyed his wife. He felt an odd sensation ripple down his spine when he thought of Andromache as his wife; he could never have imagined a better woman to spend the rest of his life with.
"Good," replied Andromache, "and you?"
"Very well, my love," said Hector.
Hector and Andromache ate the splendid food that had been brought to them. After more food had been brought out to satisfy the guest's stomachs, dancers came into the hall.
Andromache had always felt pity towards the dancing girls, they were little more than slaves, she thought, who were commanded to dance at feasts to please the men. No matter how much they smiled, she knew that inside their souls were screaming to be free.
All too quickly the time had come for the feast to end, and for Andromache and Hector to leave to his chamber.
They were led to Hector's chamber by women who chanted, it was thought that the chanting would calm the bride's nerves. Hector and Andromache walked in between the changing women, alone. The rest of the guests would depart to their own homes or chambers within the palace. As soon as Hector and Andromache had reached his chamber, the chanting women left the halls.
Hector opened the door to his room and gestured for Andromache to enter, and she did.
Andromache glanced around the room; she saw a few of Hector's robes hanging over a chair, and his armor shimmering in a corner of the room. A balcony revealed a view of the royal gardens, and then the sea that lay behind in the distance. She looked to his bed, the bed that she would share with Hector that night and for the rest of their married life.
Hector watched Andromache as she looked around their room. A loom would be brought into the chamber tomorrow, as well as the rest of Andromache's things that hadn't already been brought from the women's quarters. He noticed the stilled silence that ensued since they entered the room, he wished to break it, but didn't know what to say.
"Is there some water here?" asked Andromache, suddenly feeling extremely parched.
"Of course," said Hector and went to the stone block beside his bed, which held a jug of water and a cup. I'll need to get another cup, he thought. Carefully Hector poured some water into the cup before handing it to Andromache.
Andromache took the cup and thanked him before drinking. She immediately felt refreshed and shivered slightly as she felt the water trickle down her throat.
Slowly, Hector stepped nearer to Andromache, she knew why and her heart suddenly raced faster. He leaned to kiss her, but tripped over the sheet from his bed which hung off the bed. He grabbed onto Andromache to stop himself from falling, but that only caused her to fall with him.
Andromache fell on her back and groaned loudly. Hector fell beside her and landed on his side. He looked at Andromache to see if she was alright, but was shocked to see that she was laughing, he had almost expected her to be crying.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Andromache nodded and tried to stifle her laughter, but didn't succeed. She then turned over to Hector and kissed him softly. "I love you Hector."
Andromache then lay down on the bed and watched as Hector stood up off the floor and lay next to her.
Hector searched within Andromache's eyes, he cupped her face in his hands and could clearly see how vulnerable she was. No jewels or veils hid her face, instead she was pure … a pure beauty. He softly traced his finger down her cheek.
Thoughts of Hector being with other women instantly gushed through her mind. She wondered if other women had lain where she did now. Tears drizzled down Andromache's cheeks; she couldn't restrain them in her eyes any longer.
Hector looked up to Andromache's eyes and wiped away her tears. A concerned expression widened across his face. "What is it?"
Andromache shook her head vigorously, choosing to not answer her husband, and instead she kissed him. She heard him groan quietly. Hector kissed her neck, which caused her to release more tears.
"Andromache, please my love, tell me what's wrong," said Hector and looked up to his wife once more.
"I … I … I worry that I'm … that I won't be what you're … used to," cried Andromache, and allowed more tears to escape.
Hector smiled kindly and brushed the tears off Andromache's cheeks. "Of course you won't be, because I love you Andromache."
Andromache smiled and kissed Hector. "I love you."
Hector distinguished the light in the room and pulled his wedding robe off, and then he lay down next to Andromache and kissed her once more. She blushed heavily at first when she saw Hector undressed, but then unclasped her own wedding gown and dropped it to the floor. His hands began to roam Andromache's body, and he felt her shiver with delight.
Carefully Hector leant over Andromache; he didn't want to startle her. His eyes wandered over her body briefly, but then he kissed her soft lips once more.
That night Hector made Andromache his wife and took her from the path of maidens, and led her to the path of women.