A/N: Alexander doesn't necessarily wish to get back at Hector, he just wishes someone else to understand and feel the pain that he felt after losing Elora. I want Hector and Andromache's love to not suddenly happen and be magical, I want it to be worked at because all relationships need to be worked at in order to work, which in time will make the bond between Hector and Andromache stronger. Thank you for the reviews :)
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Paris soon left Andromache; she was then left alone in her chamber. She decided to keep the guard, who soon returned to his station, outside her chamber. Andromache thought that it would arise confusion if a guard was not to be seen outside her chamber, after Hector had ordered one to remain there at all times.
Andromache walked to the servants hall, in hopes of finding Xanthe there so she could apologise. She felt terrible after behaving so unpleasant to her, and wished to make amends. Andromache quickly glided through the halls of the palace; she now knew her way around the palace perfectly.
Xanthe was in the servant's quarters; she was in her room and lay on her bed. Andromache had rapped quietly on Xanthe's chamber door and was allowed entrance. Xanthe stood up as soon as her Princess entered.
"Is there something you need Princess Andromache?" asked Xanthe, there was no feeling in her tone which made it difficult for Andromache to know what mood she was in.
"I wished to apologise," said Andromache, miserably. "I spoke wrongly towards you, and I'm sorry. I was distressed this morning, which is no excuse for my behaviour towards you … but I hoped you would understand."
"I did understand that you were upset, Princess Andromache," said Xanthe, coldly.
Andromache sighed. "Please Xanthe; there is no need for you to call me Princess. Do you accept my apology?"
"I do," said Xanthe.
"I'll leave you then," said Andromache sadly, as she knew that Xanthe hadn't forgiven her. She left the room and strolled to her room, but as she was passing the entrance hall to the palace, she suddenly caught sight of the sea. Andromache breathed in heavily and decided to ride to the beach, she knew that Hector would disapprove, but pushed that thought from her mind.
Andromache rushed to the stables, wishing to watch the sunset. She was about to mount Hermione when she felt something move in her stomach, but this time it felt as if something was striking at her insides. Andromache remained still for a moment and waited for the pain to pass before successfully mounting her horse.
The sun had begun to set by the time Andromache had passed through the gates of Troy; she again lied to the guards and told them she was going to the temple of Apollo. Andromache rode Hermione slowly across the plain; she didn't wish to awaken the pain in her stomach.
As she neared the beach, Andromache could clearly see a person on the beach and instinctively knew it was Alexander. The sound of Hermione's hooves upon the sand caused Alexander to look up; he turned to see Andromache dismounting her horse and stood to greet her.
"I knew you'd come here," said Alexander, and smiled as Andromache walked over to him.
"You know me too tell," laughed Andromache. She sat on the sand and Alexander sat beside her.
"Did you succeed in persuading Paris to lie about me being in the palace?" asked Alexander.
"I did," said Andromache, and avoided Alexander's eyes, "I'm very grateful to Paris, not only did he risk his life for my own, but he's also lying for me … us."
"I'd never have hurt you," said Alexander. He turned his eyes away from Andromache because he knew that it made her feel uncomfortable.
"I know you wouldn't," replied Andromache. She turned to look at Alexander; he looked at peace with the world. He had finally realised that Elora would never rise from the underworld, that she was gone forever.
"I've made arrangements to return to the south," said Alexander, and ran his fingers through the sand. "I hoped to remain here in Troy, but Hector and his father would never allow it, and rightly so. Priam has already bestowed enough kindness on me, he pardoned me from death, and I think that wishing to live here peacefully would be wishing for too much."
"I'm sure Hector and Priam would think differently now," insisted Andromache, and turned to Alexander, "I could speak with Hector, I'm sure he'd understand the reasons for your actions."
Alexander smiled weakly. He turned to look at Andromache and ran his finger along her forehead and down her left cheek. "What did Hector ever do to deserve you?"
"I don't deserve him," said Andromache quietly, she didn't attempt to remove Alexander's finger from her face. "Hector showed me kindness from the very first day we met … and I love him."
"Kindness?" said Alexander. "Is that what you want, do you want kindness from the man you love? Or do you wish for the fire, the passion in love?"
Andromache moaned sadly and pulled Alexander's finger off her face. "You speak of lust, which wilts with time. Love is stronger than lust. Hector is a wonderful man, I couldn't have asked for anything more in marriage."
"You could and you did wish for more in marriage." Said Alexander. "I know that you wished for more, I saw it within you on the night I first met you here. Marriage has become a routine for you, but you're not one for routines."
"You don't know me so how could you possibly assume such things?" cried Andromache and stood up, but she knew that Alexander spoke the truth; marriage had become a routine for her. Although it was a routine she liked.
Alexander rose to his feet. "You opened yourself to me on the night we met. I know the meaning of every word you speak, because you allow me to know."
"How dare you?" shrieked Andromache. "How dare you presume such things? I'm very happy with Hector, I enjoy being his wife … I enjoy the routine we live."
"Do you?" whispered Alexander. In one swift movement he pulled Andromache towards him, and kissed her urgently.
Andromache was startled at first, but then she felt the passion, the fire that Alexander had spoken of. It was Alexander's fire and passion, not hers. She couldn't believe that this was the same man that had cried to her earlier about the woman he had loved. Andromache felt disgusted by his touch. She ripped apart from Alexander's grasp and ran to Hermione.
"Andromache, Andromache wait!" Alexander shouted.
Andromache had nearly reached her horse when she again felt pain within her stomach. She cried aloud and held her stomach, wishing for the pain to cease so she could mount Hermione and ride away.
"Is it the child?" asked Alexander, he had now reached Andromache.
"I'm not with child," snarled Andromache, through gritted teeth as she felt the pain grow. "I lied to you so you'd be sympathetic towards me." She cried inwardly because the pain was becoming unbearable, she didn't move for fear of feeling even more pain.
Everything seemed blurred to Andromache, she grasped onto Alexander to steady herself because she felt as if she was going to fall. She felt a small amount of sickness swim up her throat, and she quickly swallowed it, but then a burning sensation exploded within her throat. The world was becoming dizzy for Andromache, she felt certain that she was about to fall. Andromache then fainted; Alexander had to hold onto her tightly so she wouldn't hit the ground.
Alexander picked Andromache up in his arms; he then placed her on Hermione, who stood obediently. Once Andromache was safely on Hermione, he had to lay her forward onto Hermione's neck so she wouldn't fall, he mounted the horse. Alexander held Andromache in his arms and held onto the reins with his hands. Hermione galloped to the palace.
The guards at the gates of Troy recognised the girl, they were still unaware she was a Princess though, but they immediately recognised Alexander. A few of them grabbed at Hermione's reins to stop her, but she neighed loudly and rode to the palace. Alexander knew that the guards would call for assistance and notify the King, but he needed to return Andromache to her chamber and find help for her before leaving.
Isus, the stable boy, was brushing a white mare when Hermione galloped into the stable. He immediately looked up from his work and was shocked to see the Princess unconscious and that she was with a man he hadn't seen before.
"Boy, come here quickly!" shouted Alexander.
Isus followed the man's order and rushed to Hermione.
"Hold the reins while I dismount," said Alexander, and he dismounted Hermione. Once he had, he dragged Andromache off the horse and into his arms. "Take the horse to her stall and then find a physician. When you find one, send him to Hector and Andromache's chamber that is where she will be."
Isus nodded and quickly returned Hermione to her stall before racing out of the stables in search of a physician.
Alexander rushed Andromache to her chamber; luckily he didn't come across anyone on his way. He knew the palace better than some of the servants who had worked there all their lives. Once he had reached Andromache and Hector's chamber, he carefully placed Andromache onto the bed. She still hadn't woken up and her temperature was rapidly rising.
The basin of water and cloth Andromache had used to clean Paris' wounds still sat on the floor. Alexander hastily picked the cloth and basin up, he wringed the cloth, hoping some of the blood would trickle out of it. Then he placed the basin by the bed and gently dabbed the cloth on Andromache's forehead.
The door to Andromache's chamber opened quietly. Isus entered the room, slightly nervous at first, and a physician followed closely behind him.
Alexander stood off the bed and walked over to the physician, although before he informed the man on Andromache's sudden illness, he turned to the stable boy. "Thank you, you've helped me immensely, you may go now."
Isus nodded and left the room.
"What is wrong with Princess Andromache?" asked the physician, he didn't recognise the man who stood before him. He then rushed to Andromache's side and felt her forehead.
"I don't know," answered Alexander. "She was perfectly fine, but then she clasped onto her stomach as if she felt pain there, after that she fainted. I brought her here immediately, and then her temperature rose."
The physician nodded and lifted Andromache's left hand and felt her pulse. Andromache groaned, she slowly woke and looked around the room madly.
"How did I get here?" she mumbled and sat up, she widened her eyes when she saw that Alexander was in the room. "What are you doing here?"
The physician looked from the Princess and to the man; he turned to speak to Alexander. "I think it'd be best if you left, you're obviously distressing Princess Andromache."
Alexander nodded and left the room, he waited outside her chamber for news on how she was.
The physician turned to his patient. "Princess Andromache, could you please tell me what you think caused you to faint?"
Andromache sighed and rubbed her stomach, the pain had now vanished. "I felt pain within my stomach, excruciating pain, and I fainted."
"When did you last bleed?" asked the physician and again checked Andromache's pulse.
"Bleed?" whispered Andromache, and furiously began to think in her head. She almost screamed when she realised: "I've not bled for over a … a month."
"You're with child then," said the physician and smiled happily. "Have you been feeling stressed lately? The pains you've been feeling could be stress related, and now that you're with child … that could be making you feel even worse. I'd suggest that you rest over the next few days, relax as much as you can. Don't do anything strenuous for the next few weeks either. Eat and drink as much as you can also."
Andromache nodded, unable to speak from shock.
"If you feel worse then send a servant for me," said the physician. "Congratulations Princess Andromache." He then left the room, and Alexander stepped into the chamber.