Polyxena soon left after she had finished drinking the water Andromache had given her. Andromache watched her leave, and was worried about her friend because she knew that Polyxena would forever dwell over Cassandra's words.
Andromache quickly prepared herself for sleep and then lay on her bed; she felt it too hot to sleep with the sheets over her tonight. She felt pain arise in her stomach again, although this time it wasn't as terrible as her pains had been earlier that day. Andromache went to the basin, which was now filled with fresh water, and washed her face with cold water, hoping it would cool her while she tried to sleep.
She suddenly felt something trickle down her leg, she looked down to her white robe and saw that blood stained the area in between her legs. Andromache allowed a cry to escape her mouth, she knew what this meant. She quickly changed into a clean robe and gathered some leaves and spare cloth from her wooden chest. Once a month, Andromache would gather leaves and cloth and use it to contain the rapid flow of blood that leaked from her each month.
Andromache opened the door to her chamber and turned to the guard that stood outside her door. "Will you please send for a physician?" She then shut her door, wishing to be alone for a few moments.
The guard nodded and quickly haunted for a servant. Xanthe walked down the hall, wishing to see Andromache, she halted when the guard called out to her.
"Find the physician for Princess Andromache!" said the guard.
Xanthe looked at the guard, and to Andromache's chamber, which was now in sight. "I'm Princess Andromache's handmaiden, I'll see to her while you find a physician."
The guard nodded and ran down the hall in search of the physician that resided in the palace. Xanthe hurried to her friend's chamber, she opened the door and found Andromache sitting on the bed, rocking backwards and forwards.
"Andromache, what's wrong?" asked Xanthe and sat by Andromache's side.
"I'm not with child," whispered Andromache. "I was never with child."
Xanthe remained silent; she rubbed her friends back in gentle motions, and waited for the physician.
The door to Andromache's chamber opened and the physician she had seen earlier stepped into the room. He asked for Xanthe to leave while he spoke to the Princess, but Andromache held onto Xanthe's arm and insisted that she remained in the room.
"Would you please tell me what's wrong Princess Andromache?" He asked.
"I've bled," said Andromache quietly.
The physician sighed sadly. "I'm sorry Princess Andromache. If you've bled now then you're not with child, you probably bled later than usual due to recent stress. I'm very sorry."
Andromache nodded, she was unable to speak or cry because she felt numb. She had been so excited to tell Hector, when he returned, that she was expecting a child, but now she wouldn't be able to do that.
"I would again suggest that you relax over the next few weeks," said the physician, "do everything I instructed you to do earlier. I'm sorry Princess Andromache, goodnight." He then left the room.
"I'm sorry Andromache," said Xanthe and embraced her. "Would you like me to gather some food for you, would you like some wine … or water?"
Andromache smiled weakly and shook her head. "I'm fine Xanthe. I think I'll just retire to bed, thank you for coming, you may go also."
Xanthe was reluctant to leave her friend, she clearly saw that Andromache was grieved by the news of not being with child, and she wished to comfort her. Finally, Xanthe left.
Andromache lay on her bed, this time she wrapped herself underneath the sheets. She felt it strange to be sleeping in the bed alone, Andromache wished for Hector to be with her now, she needed him.
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Andromache awoke early the next morning, she slept little during the night because she was constantly thinking of Hector, her family, and the child she thought she had. She couldn't face leaving her chamber, she wished to be alone.
Remaining in the robe she slept in, Andromache carried a chair out to the balcony and watched the sunrise. She looked out to the sea and imagined how far across it Hector was now. Andromache wished she had left with him; it'd have been easier for her to cope if she was with the man she loved.
Andromache had watched her mother, and women she knew lose children before, but they actually lost children. She felt ridiculous for grieving over a child that hadn't even existed, but she couldn't control the way she felt.
She was relieved that she hadn't told Paris that she was with child, when she thought she was. Andromache decided to not tell Hector that she believed she was with child; she felt no need for it and wished to keep this to herself. A part of Andromache felt like she wasn't womanly enough to tell the difference between being with child, and bleeding later than usual.
Around the hour Andromache would usually eat breakfast, she called for a servant to bring her some food. She realised she hadn't eaten since the morning before and felt slightly hungry. When the food arrived, she carried it to the table in her chamber and managed to eat a few grapes, but nothing more so she returned to her chair on the balcony.
Andromache heard the door to her room open, she turned her head to see who had entered and saw her mother-in-law walking towards her. Hecuba carried a chair out to the balcony and sat it beside Andromache's chair, so she could sit on it.
"It's a lovely morning," said Hecuba, and noticed that Andromache was still wearing her nightly robe.
"It is," agreed Andromache, and wished she was properly dressed. "I'm sorry for my appearance, I wasn't expecting company."
Hecuba smiled and patted Andromache's hand kindly. "Please do not worry Andromache, I often wore my sleeping robes during the day when Priam sailed away to battle for the first time. I felt so lost without him when he first left, I didn't know what to do with myself."
Andromache nodded; she perfectly understood what her mother-in-law said. "Did it get easier for you, after time?"
"It did," said Hecuba, "although it was never completely easy. I had Hector very early on in my marriage to Priam, and it was hard to see my husband leave for battle while I remained with our children. I only wish that Priam could see Hector speaking his first word, or Cassandra walking for the first time. Even when Priam was here, he was often busy."
"Do you think it will be the same with Hector and I?" asked Andromache, she wished that it wouldn't because she wanted Hector to see his children grow with her.
"I hope not," said Hecuba. "When I married Priam, Troy was at war, which caused Priam to be away for long periods of time, and then to be engaged with work while he was home. Troy isn't at war now and hasn't been for many years, I feel certain that you and Hector will see your children grow together."
Andromache smiled. "I hope we do."
"How do you find married life?" asked Hecuba.
"Wonderful," said Andromache, "Hector and I are very happy together."
"I'm glad to hear it," said Hecuba, she then stood up. "I'll leave you now Andromache, if you ever feel lonely while Hector is away, then you're more than welcome to visit me."
"Thank you," said Andromache, she then stood up and walked her mother-in-law to the door.
Andromache returned to the balcony. She looked over it and into the royal gardens. She stood there for a few moments, breathing in the cool morning air, and then returned into her room. Andromache decided to dress into a pale blue peplos, she wanted to go into the market place and purchase a new robe after ruining her white one the night before.
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A/N: I think any questions you may have, will be answered by the end of the fic. Although, I will say that I'm planning to bring Polyxena's death in this, but that won't be for a while yet.
I really don't know what women, in the time period of Troy, did when they had periods. I tried to do some research, but that wasn't helpful. (I'm sure there is stuff out there, I just couldn't find it.) So I've decided to just have the women use leaves and cloth when they have their period.
At the moment I can say that we may see more of Alexander, I have two ways in my head that we may see Alexander. If we do see him then it will probably be in the next chapter (although I'm only just starting to write chapter 20 now, so I'm not too sure), and don't worry Andromache will never fall in love with Alexander. Thanks for the reviews! :)